Salmos 49

¹For the leader. A psalm of the Korahites. Hear this, all you peoples! Give ear, all who inhabit the world,

²You of lowly birth or high estate, rich and poor alike.

³My mouth shall speak wisdom, my heart shall offer insight.

⁴I will turn my attention to a problem, expound my question to the music of a lyre.

⁵I Why should I fear in evil days, when my wicked pursuers ring me round,

⁶Those who trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches?

⁷One cannot redeem oneself, pay to God a ransom.

⁸Too high the price to redeem a life; one would never have enough

⁹To stay alive forever and never see the pit.

¹⁰Anyone can see that the wisest die, the fool and the senseless pass away too, and must leave their wealth to others.

¹¹Tombs are their homes forever, their dwellings through all generations, though they gave their names to their lands.

¹²For all their riches mortals do not abide; they perish like the beasts.

¹³II This is the destiny of those who trust in folly, the end of those so pleased with their wealth. Selah

¹⁴Like sheep they are herded into Sheol, where death will be their shepherd. Straight to the grave they descend, where their form will waste away, Sheol will be their palace.

¹⁵But God will redeem my life, will take me from the power of Sheol. Selah

¹⁶Do not fear when others become rich, when the wealth of their houses grows great.

¹⁷When they die they will take nothing with them, their wealth will not follow them down.

¹⁸When living, they congratulate themselves and say: All praise you, you do so well.

¹⁹But they will join the company of their forebears, never again to see the light.

²⁰For all their riches, if mortals do not have wisdom, they perish like the beasts.