Listen, Everyone
Study note
The psalmist calls all people to listen — both low and high, rich and poor. He will share wise words and unlock a hidden truth.
1 Listen up, everyone on earth. Pay attention, every person in the world, Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
2 no matter who you are — ordinary or important, wealthy or poor. Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
3 What I have to say comes from wisdom. The thoughts deep in my heart bring real understanding. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4 I will lean in close to hear a wise saying. I will unlock its meaning while music plays on the harp. I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
Wealth Cannot Save from Death
Study note
No one can pay a ransom to God for their life. The cost is too high. Wise and foolish both die and leave their wealth behind. People may name lands after themselves, but they cannot last forever.
5 Why should I be afraid when trouble closes in? Why fear when wicked people who want to trick me press in all around? Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6 These are people who lean on their money and brag about how much they own. They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7 But no person can pay enough to buy back someone else's life. No one can hand God a big enough payment to cover the cost. None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8 The price tag for redeeming a life is way too high. No amount of money is ever enough. (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
9 Nobody can buy their way into living forever and never facing the grave. That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
10 Everyone can see that even wise people die. Foolish and senseless people pass away too. They leave everything they owned for others. For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 The grave becomes their home for good. They will stay there through every age. This is true even if they named whole lands after themselves. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 No matter how wealthy people become, they will not last. They end up just like the animals that die. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This is what happens to people who trust only in themselves. This is how it ends for those who are so pleased with their own words. Selah. This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
God Will Redeem My Soul
Study note
Despite the universal reality of death, the psalmist declares that God will redeem his soul from the grave. Don't be afraid when others become rich — they take nothing with them when they die.
15 But God will buy my life back from the grip of the grave, because he is going to take me to be with himself. Selah. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
16 Do not be worried when someone gets rich. Do not be bothered when their house gets more and more impressive. Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17 When that person dies, they take nothing with them. All their wealth stays right here. For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
18 They might have congratulated themselves all through life — and people do praise you when things go well for you — Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
19 but they will end up joining the generations who came before them and will never again see the light of day. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
20 A person who is rich but has no understanding is no different from the animals that die and are gone. Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.