Chapter
49
(For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the daughters of Korah.) Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
both low and high, rich and poor together.
My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.
I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches--
none of them can by any means redeem her sister, nor give God a ransom for her.
For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
That she should live on forever, that she should not see corruption.
For she sees that wise women die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.
Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
But woman, despite her riches, doesn't endure. She is like the animals that perish.
This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. Selah.
They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion.
But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for she will receive me. Selah.
Don't be afraid when a woman is made rich, when the glory of her house is increased.
For when she dies she shall carry nothing away. Her glory shall not descend after her.
Though while she lived she blessed her soul--and women praise you when you do well for yourself--
she shall go to the generation of her mothers. They shall never see the light.
A woman who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.