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49:1  For the music director. Of the sons of Korah. A psalm. Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,
49:2  both low and high, rich and poor together.
49:3  My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
49:4  I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will propound my riddle on a lyre.
49:5  Why should I fear in times of calamity, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels,
49:6  those who trust their wealth and boast about the abundance of their riches?
49:7  Surely a man cannot redeem a brother. He cannot give to God his ransom
49:8  (since the redemption price for their life is costly and it always fails),
49:9  so that he may stay alive forever and not see the pit.
49:10  For he sees that the wise die, together with the fool and brute they perish, and leave their wealth to the next generation.
49:11  Within them they think their houses are forever, their dwelling places from generation to generation. They name their lands by their own names.
49:12  But man cannot continue in his pomp. He is like the beasts that perish.
49:13  This is the journey of those who have foolish confidence, and those after them who accept their sayings. Selah
49:14  Like sheep they are destined to Sheol; death will shepherd them. But the upright will rule over them in the morning, and their forms will be for Sheol to consume, far from his lofty abode.
49:15  Surely God will ransom my life from the power of Sheol, because he will receive me. Selah
49:16  Do not fear when a man becomes rich, when the wealth of his house increases,
49:17  because when he dies he will not take away any of it. His wealth will not follow down after him.
49:18  Though he congratulated his soul while he was living —and people will praise you when you do well for yourself—
49:19  it will go to the generation of his fathers. Never will they see light.
49:20  Humankind in its pomp, but does not understand, is like the beasts that perish.