1To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. 2Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 3both low and high, rich and poor together! 4My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. 5I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. 6Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, 7men who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? 8Truly no man can ransom himself, or give to God the price of his life, 9for the ransom of his life is costly, and can never suffice, 10that he should continue to live on for ever, and never see the Pit. 11Yea, he shall see that even the wise die, the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. 12Their graves are their homes for ever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own. 13Man cannot abide in his pomp, he is like the beasts that perish. 14This is the fate of those who have foolish confidence, the end of those who are pleased with their portion. [Selah] 15Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away; Sheol shall be their home. 16But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. [Selah] 17Be not afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. 18For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. 19Though, while he lives, he counts himself happy, and though a man gets praise when he does well for himself, 20he will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never more see the light. [ (Psalms 49:21) Man cannot abide in his pomp, he is like the beasts that perish. ]