Psalms 49
1 For the end, a Psalm for the sons of Core. Hear these words, all ye nations, hearken, all ye that dwell upon the earth:
For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world
2 both the sons of mean men, and sons of [great] men; the rich and poor [man] together.
people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring [forth] understanding.
My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.
I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.
Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,
6 They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—
who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?
7 A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,
For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,
8 or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labour for ever,
for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 and live to the end, [so] that he should not see corruption.
to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.
10 When he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.
But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon their wealth to others.
11 And their sepulchres are their houses for ever, [even] their tabernacles to all generations: they have called their lands after their own names.
The grave is their everlasting home, the place they shall live in for ever and ever, though after their own names they called whole lands.
12 And man being in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.
Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.
13 This their way is an offence to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. (Pause)
This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (Selah)
14 They have laid [them] as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they descend to Sheol with Death for their shepherd; down they go straight to the grave, and their form wastes away in their home below. (Sheol h7585)
15 But God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)
But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Fear not when a man is enriched, and when the glory of his house is increased.
So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.
17 For he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.
Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.
18 For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to thee when thou dost well to him.
Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,
19 [Yet] he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.
they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.
20 Man that is in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.
The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.
