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:

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.

2 both the sons of mean men, and sons of [great] men; the rich and poor [man] together.

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

3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring [forth] understanding.

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

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.

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

5 Therefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.

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?

6 They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—

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

7 A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,

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

8 or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labour for ever,

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

9 and live to the end, [so] that he should not see corruption.

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

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 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.

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 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.

12 And man being in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.

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

13 This their way is an offence to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. (Pause)

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)

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)

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)

15 But God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)

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

16 Fear not when a man is enriched, and when the glory of his house is increased.

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

17 For he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.

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

18 For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to you when you do well to him.

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

19 [Yet] he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.

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

20 Man that is in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.

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