(GWT) Psalms 49 : 1 [For the choir director; a psalm by Korah's descendants.] Listen to this, all you people. Open your ears, all who live in the world-
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 2 common people and important ones, rich people and poor ones.
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 3 My mouth will speak wise sayings, the insights I have carefully considered.
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 4 I will turn my attention to a proverb. I will explain my riddle with the [music of] a lyre.
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 5 Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when slanderers surround me with evil?
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 6 They trust their riches and brag about their abundant wealth.
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 7 No one can ever buy back another person or pay God a ransom for his life.
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 8 The price to be paid for his soul is too costly. He must always give up
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 9 in order to live forever and never see the pit.
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 10 Indeed, one can see that wise people die, that foolish and stupid people meet the same end. They leave their riches to others.
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 11 Although they named their lands after themselves, their graves have become their homes for ages to come, their dwelling places throughout every generation.
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 12 But mortals will not continue here with what they treasure. They are like animals that die.
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 13 This is the final outcome for fools and their followers who are delighted by what they say: [Selah]
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 14 Like sheep, they are driven to hell with death as their shepherd. (Decent people will rule them in the morning.) Their forms will decay in the grave, far away from their comfortable homes.
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 15 But God will buy me back from the power of hell because he will take me. [Selah]
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 16 Do not be afraid when someone becomes rich, when the greatness of his house increases.
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 17 He will not take anything with him when he dies. His greatness cannot follow him.
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 18 Even though he blesses himself while he is alive (and they praise you when you do well for yourself),
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 19 he must join the generation of his ancestors, who will never see light [again].
(GWT) Psalms 49 : 20 Mortals, with what they treasure, still don't have understanding. They are like animals that die.