Psalms 49 · Clearspring

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

The Evanescence of Wealth

¹To the Overseer. --By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.+ ²Both low and high, together rich and needy.+ ³My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart are things of understanding.+ ⁴I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:+ ⁵Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.+ ⁶Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.+ ⁷A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.+ ⁸And precious is the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased--to the age.+ ⁹And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.+ ¹⁰For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.+ ¹¹Their heart is: Their houses are to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.+ ¹²And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.+ ¹³This their way is folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. Selah.+ ¹⁴As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form is for consumption. Sheol is a dwelling for him.+ ¹⁵Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. Selah.+ ¹⁶Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,+ ¹⁷For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.+ ¹⁸For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)+ ¹⁹It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.+ ²⁰Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!+

The Evanescence of Wealth

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