Psalm 49 - Easy To Read Version

¹ Listen to this all you nations.\par Listen to this all you people on earth.\par

² Every person, poor and rich alike,\par should listen.\par

³ I will tell you some very wise\par and intelligent things.\par

⁴ I myself listened to the stories.\par And now, with my harp, I will sing\par and reveal that message to you.\par

⁵ Why should I be afraid\par if trouble comes.\par There is no need to be afraid\par if evil people surround me\par and try to trap me.\par

⁶ Some people think their strength and wealth will protect them.\par But those people are fools.\par

⁷ No human friend can save you.\par And you can’t bribe {\cf2\super [292]} God.\par

⁸ No person will ever get enough money\par to buy his own life.\par

⁹ No person will ever get enough money\par to buy the right to live forever,\par and to save his own body\par from rotting in the grave.\par

¹⁰ Look, wise people die\par the same as fools and stupid people. {\cf2\super [293]} \par They die and leave their wealth\par to other people.\par

¹¹ The grave will be their new home\par forever and ever.\par And how much land they owned\par won’t make any difference!\par

¹² People might be wealthy,\par but they can’t stay here forever.\par They will die just like the animals.\par

¹³ That is what happens to those foolish people\par who are so pleased with their wealth. {\cf2\super [294]} \par \i (SELAH {\cf2\super [295]})\i0 \par

¹⁴ Those people are just like sheep.\par The grave will be their pen.\par Death will be their shepherd.\par Then on that morning\par the good people will be the winners\par as the bodies of those \{proud\} people\par slowly rot in the grave,\par far away from their fancy houses.\par

¹⁵ But God will pay the price\par and save my life. {\cf2\super [296]} \par He will save me\par from the power of the grave\par when he takes me \{to be with him\}!\par \i (SELAH {\cf2\super [297]})\i0 \par

¹⁶ Don’t be afraid of people\par just because they are rich.\par Don’t be afraid of people\par just because they have big fancy houses.\par

¹⁷ Those people won’t take a thing with them\par when they die.\par They will not take any of those\par beautiful things with them.\par

¹⁸ A wealthy person might really congratulate himself\par on how well he has done in life.\par And yes, even other people might praise him for how well he had done for himself.\par

¹⁹ But the time will come for him \{to die\}\par and go to his ancestors.\par And he will never again\par see the light of day.\par

²⁰ People might be wealthy,\par and still not understand.\par They will die just like the animals.\par