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I

Why should I fear in evil days,
    with the iniquity of my assailants surrounding me,
Of those who trust in their wealth
    and boast of their abundant riches?(A)
[a]No man can ransom even a brother,
    or pay to God his own ransom.(B)
The redemption of his soul is costly;
    and he will pass away forever.
10 Will he live on forever, then,
    and never see the Pit of Corruption?
11 Indeed, he will see that the wise die,
    and the fool will perish together with the senseless,(C)
    and they leave their wealth to others.(D)
12 Their tombs are their homes forever,
    their dwellings through all generations,
    “They named countries after themselves”
13     —but man does not abide in splendor.
    He is like the beasts—they perish.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 49:8 No man can ransom even a brother: an axiom. For the practice of redemption, cf. Jb 6:21–23. A play on the first Hebrew word of Ps 49:8, 16 relates the two verses.

those who trust in their wealth(A)
    and boast(B) of their great riches?(C)
No one can redeem the life of another
    or give to God a ransom for them—
the ransom(D) for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough—(E)
so that they should live on(F) forever
    and not see decay.(G)
10 For all can see that the wise die,(H)
    that the foolish and the senseless(I) also perish,
    leaving their wealth(J) to others.(K)
11 Their tombs(L) will remain their houses[a] forever,
    their dwellings for endless generations,(M)
    though they had[b] named(N) lands after themselves.

12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;(O)
    they are like the beasts that perish.(P)

13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,(Q)
    and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain
  2. Psalm 49:11 Or generations, / for they have
  3. Psalm 49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.