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.

Unto the end, a psalm for the sons of Core. Hear these things, all ye nations: give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.

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

All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: both rich and poor together.

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 understanding.

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

I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my proposition on the psaltery.

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?

Why shall I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall encompass me.

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

They that trust in their own strength, and glory in the multitude of their riches,

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

No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: he shall not give to God his ransom,

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

Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: and shall labour for ever,

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

And shall still live unto the end.

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.

He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying: the senseless and the fool shall perish together: And they shall leave their riches to strangers:

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.

And their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever. Their dwelling places to all generations: they have called their lands by their names.

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

And man when he was in honour did not understand; he is compared to senseless beasts, and is become like to them.

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 way of theirs is a stumblingblock to them: and afterwards they shall delight in their mouth.

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)

They are laid in hell like sheep: death shall feed upon them. And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their help shall decay in hell from their glory. (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 hand of hell, when he shall receive me. (Sheol h7585)

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

Be not thou afraid, when a man shall be made rich, and when the glory of his house shall be increased.

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

For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; nor shall his glory descend with 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,

For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: and he will praise thee when thou shalt do well to him.

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

He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: and he shall never see light.

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

Man when he was in honour did not understand: he hath been compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them.