Psalm 49

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

1Listen to this, all you people!

Pay attention, everyone in the world!

2High and low,

rich and poor—listen!

3For my words are wise,

and my thoughts are filled with insight.

4I listen carefully to many proverbs

and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.

5Why should I fear when trouble comes,

when enemies surround me?

6They trust in their wealth

and boast of great riches.

7Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death*

by paying a ransom to God.

8Redemption does not come so easily,

for no one can ever pay enough

9to live forever

and never see the grave.