Psalms 49
1 For the end, a Psalm for the sons of Core. Hear these words, all you nations, listen, all you that dwell upon the earth:
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both the sons of mean men, and sons of [great] men; the rich and poor [man] together.
both low and high, rich and poor alike.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring [forth] understanding.
My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
5 Therefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.
Why should I fear in times of trouble, when wicked usurpers surround me?
6 They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—
They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
7 A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,
No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.
8 or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labour for ever,
For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice,
9 and live to the end, [so] that he should not see corruption.
that he should live on forever and not see decay.
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.
For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave 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.
Their graves are their eternal homes— their dwellings for endless generations— even though their lands were their namesakes.
12 And man being in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.
But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way is an offence to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. (Pause)
This is the fate of the self-confident and their followers who endorse their sayings.
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 are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode. (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 redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. (Sheol h7585)
16 Fear not when a man is enriched, and when the glory of his house is increased.
Do not be amazed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.
17 For he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.
For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
18 For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to you when you do well to him.
Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul— and men praise you when you prosper—
19 [Yet] he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.
he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.
20 Man that is in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.
A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
