Psalm
49 Tuesday Evening 2
Hear this, all peoples; *
listen, all inhabitants of the world,
of low or high class, * rich
and poor alike.
My mouth shall speak wisdom,
* and my throat proclaim insight.
I will incline my ear to a proverb,
* will breathe out my riddle on the lyre.
Why should I fear the evil days, * or the malice of slanderers
who surround me,
who trust in their wealth, * and of their ample riches boast?
Brother! a man can never redeem himself, * or pay God his
ransom.
The House Below will be his soul's redemption, * and he will
be gone forever,
when he could have lived jubilant forever, * and never
have seen the Pit.
If God looks at the wise, they die; * if he gazes upon fools,
they straightway perish, * and leave to others their wealth.
While they are in their eternal home, * their dwelling for all
generations,
their heirs on earth * invoke their names.
For in the House Below man
will sleep indeed, * and become like the beasts that cease to be.
This is the destiny of those who had wealth, * and the final end
of those who indulged their taste.
Like sheep they will be put in Sheol; * Death will be their
shepherd.
They will go down its throat like a calf, * their limbs devoured
by Sheol, * consumed by the Devourer.
But God will ransom me; * from the hand of Sheol he will
surely snatch me.
Do not be envious when a man grows rich, * when the wealth of his
house increases,
for when he dies he will not take a thing; * his wealth will not
descend with him, * though he worshiped his appetite while he lived.
Though they praise you when you prosper, * you will enter the
circle of your fathers, * who will never more see the light.
In the House Below man will
sense not a thing, * and become like beasts that cease to be.