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.
“For the leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Hear this, all ye nations; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world;
2 High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.
Both high and low, 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 mind shall be 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 poem; I will utter my song 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?
Why should I fear in the days of adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries encompasseth me;
6 Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.
They who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness of their wealth?
7 Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;
No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,
8 (Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)
That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.
9 So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.
Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.
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, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, And 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.
They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.
12 But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
Yet man, who is in honor, 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)
Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. (Pause)
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 they are cast into the underworld; Death shall feed upon them; And the upright shall soon trample upon them. Their form shall be consumed in the underworld, And they shall no more have a dwelling-place. (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 life from the underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. (Pause) (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 one 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 will carry nothing away; His glory will 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 in his life he thought himself happy, —Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity, —
19 He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.
Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!
20 Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.
