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:
TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. Hear this, all you peoples, Give ear, all you 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, together rich and needy.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring [forth] understanding.
My mouth speaks wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.
I incline my ear to an allegory, I open my riddle with a harp:
5 Therefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.
Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters surrounds me.
6 They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—
Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Show themselves foolish.
7 A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,
A brother ransoms no one at all, He does not give to God his atonement.
8 or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labour for ever,
And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it has ceased for all time.
9 and live to the end, [so] that he should not see corruption.
And still he lives forever, He does not see the pit.
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 wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left 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 heart [is that] their houses [are] for all time, Their dwelling places from generation to generation. They proclaimed their names over the lands.
12 And man being in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.
And man does not remain in honor, He has been like the beasts, they have been cut off.
13 This their way is an offence to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. (Pause)
This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity are pleased with their sayings. (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)
They have set themselves as sheep for Sheol, Death afflicts them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form [is] for consumption. Sheol [is] a dwelling for him. (Sheol h7585)
15 But God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)
Only, God ransoms my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He receives me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Fear not when a man is enriched, and when the glory of his house is increased.
Do not fear when one makes wealth, When the glory of his house is abundant,
17 For he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.
For at his death he receives nothing, His glory does 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.
For he blesses his soul in his life (And they praise you when you do well for yourself).
19 [Yet] he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.
It comes to the generation of his fathers, They do not see the light forever.
20 Man that is in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.
Man in honor, who does not understand, Has been like the beasts, they have been cut off!
