Psalms 49

1 Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.

To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:

2 High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.

Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.

3 From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.

My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding:

4 I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.

I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.

5 What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?

Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? —

6 Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.

They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ...

7 Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;

None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,

8 (Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)

(For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever, )

9 So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.

That he should still live perpetually, [and] not see corruption.

10 For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.

For he seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they leave their wealth to others.

11 The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.

Their inward thought is, that their houses are for ever, their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the lands after their own names.

12 But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.

Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah)

This their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings. (Selah)

14 Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever. (Sheol h7585)

Like sheep are they laid in Sheol: Death feedeth on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their comeliness shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for them. (Sheol h7585)

15 But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol: for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

16 Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;

Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased:

17 For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.

For when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.

18 Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,

Though he blessed his soul in his lifetime, — and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself, —

19 He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.

It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.

20 Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.

Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.