49 - David And The High Spirit

Chapter 49

Hear this all peoples

Give ear all inhabitants of the world

Both low and high

Rich and poor together

My mouth shall speak wisdom

The meditation of my heart shall be understanding

I will incline my ear to a proverb

I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre

Why should I fear in times of trouble

When the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me

Men who boast of the wealth

And boast of the abundance of their riches

Truly no man can ransom himself

Or give to God the price of his life

For the ransom of his life is costly

And can never suffice

That he should continue to live on for ever

And never see the pit

Yea he shall see that even the wise die

The fool and the stupid alike must perish

And leave their wealth to others

Their graves are their homes for ever

Their dwelling places to all generations

Though they named lands their own

Man cannot abide in his pomp

He is like the beasts that perish

This is the fate of those who have foolish confidence

The end of those who are pleased with their portion

Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol

Death shall be their shepherd

Straight to the grave they descend

And their form shall waste away

Sheol be their home

But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol

For he will receive me

Be not afraid when one becomes rich

When the glory of his house increases

For when he dies he will carry nothing away

His glory will not go down after him

Though while he lives he counts himself happy

And though a man gets praise when he does well for himself

He will go to the generation of his fathers

Who will never more see the light

Man cannot abide in his pomp

He is like the beasts that perish