*For the music director, a psalm by the Korahites. Listen to this, all you nations! Pay attention, all you inhabitants of the world! *Pay attention, all you people, both rich and poor!*I will declare a wise saying; I will share my profound thoughts. *I will learn a song that imparts wisdom; I will then sing my insightful song to the accompaniment of a harp. *Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when the sinful deeds of deceptive men threaten to overwhelm me? *They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.*Certainly a man cannot rescue his brother; he cannot pay God an adequate ransom price *(the ransom price for a human life is too high, and people go to their final destiny), *so that he might continue to live forever and not experience death. *Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others. *Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves, *but, despite their wealth, people do not last, they are like animals that perish. *This is the destiny of fools, and of those who approve of their philosophy. (Selah)*They will travel to Sheol like sheep, with death as their shepherd. The godly will rule over them when the day of vindication dawns; Sheol will consume their bodies and they will no longer live in impressive houses. *But God will rescue my life from the power of Sheol; certainly he will pull me to safety. (Selah)*Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and his wealth multiplies! *For he will take nothing with him when he dies; his wealth will not follow him down into the grave. *He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive: “May men praise you, for you have done well!”*But he will join his ancestors; they will never again see the light of day. *Wealthy people do not understand; they are like animals that perish.
