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49:1  For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
49:2  both low and high, rich and poor alike:
49:3  My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
49:4  I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
49:5  Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me--
49:6  those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
49:7  No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them--
49:8  the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough--
49:9  so that they should live on forever and not see decay.
49:10  For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
49:11  Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
49:12  People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.
49:13  This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
49:14  They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.
49:15  But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.
49:16  Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;
49:17  for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.
49:18  Though while they live they count themselves blessed-- and people praise you when you prosper--
49:19  they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.
49:20  People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.