49  For the musical director: a song by Korah’s descendants.

1 Hear this, all you peoples.

Listen to this, all you inhabitants of the world,

2 ≈ both low and high—

≈ rich and poor together.

3 I’ll talk about wisdom

≈ and my inner thoughts will be about understanding.

4 I’ll listen to a proverb.

I’ll introduce my riddle with a harp piece.

5 Why should I fear in evil times?

≈ Why should I be afraid when I’m surrounded by wickedness?

6 Why should I fear those who trust in their riches

≈ and boast about their extensive wealth?

7 It is certain that no one can redeem his brother

≈ or pay God a ransom for him,

8 because it’s very expensive to buy back someone’s life,

≈ and no one can pay what we owe.

9 No one can live forever

≈ so that they wouldn’t experience the grave,

10 because he will see decay—even wise people die.

≈ The fool and the brute alike come to an end

→ and leave their wealth to others.

11 Their inner thought is that their families will continue forever,

and the places where they live, for all future generations.

They name their lands after themselves,

12 yet people don’t remain alive despite their wealth.

≈ People die just like the animals.

13 That’s the way of foolish people,

yet after they’re gone, people approve of their sayings. (Instrumental break.)

14 Like sheep, they’re destined for slaughter,

≈ and death will be their shepherd.

The upright will rule over them in the morning,

and their bodies will rot in the grave,

≈ far from their fancy homes.

15 But God will buy back my life from the power of the grave,

because he’ll receive me. (Instrumental break.)

16 Don’t be afraid when someone gets rich,

≈ and if their family becomes very prominent,

17 → because when they die, they’ll take nothing with them.

≈ Their splendour can’t follow them down.

18 They looked after themselves well while they lived

(and people do praise you when you live for yourself),

19 but they’ll go to join their ancestors

and won’t ever see the light again.

20 Anyone who has prestige but no understanding

is like the wild animals that will die.