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49:1 Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 49:2 both low and high, rich and poor together. 49:3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. 49:4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp. 49:5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, 49:6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? 49:7 Truly, no ransom avails for one's life, there is no price one can give to God for it. 49:8 For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice 49:9 that one should live on forever and never see the grave. 49:10 When we look at the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together and leave their wealth to others. 49:11 Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own. 49:12 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish. 49:13 Such is the fate of the foolhardy, the end of those who are pleased with their lot.Selah 49:14 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 shall be their home. 49:15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.Selah 49:16 Do not be afraid when some become rich, when the wealth of their houses increases. 49:17 For when they die they will carry nothing away; their wealth will not go down after them. 49:18 Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy-- for you are praised when you do well for yourself-- 49:19 they will go to the company of their ancestors, who will never again see the light. 49:20 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish. 49:21