Psalms 49
1 Unto the end. A Psalm to the sons of Korah. Hear these things, all nations. Pay attention, all inhabitants of the world:
To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all [ye] people; give ear, all [ye] inhabitants of the world:
2 whoever is earth-born, you sons of men, together as one, the rich and the poor.
Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
3 My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will speak prudence.
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a parable. I will open my case with the psaltery.
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Why should I fear in the evil day? The iniquity at my heel will surround me.
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, [when] the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6 Those who trust in their own strength and who glory in the multitude of their riches,
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7 no brother redeems, nor will man buy back. He will not give to God his appeasement,
None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8 nor the price for the redemption of his soul. And he will labor continuously,
(For the redemption of their soul [is] precious, and it ceaseth for ever: )
9 and he will still live, until the end.
That he should still live for ever, [and] not see corruption.
10 He will not see death, when he sees the wise dying: the foolish and the senseless will perish together. And they will leave their riches to strangers.
For he seeth [that] wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 And their sepulchers will be their houses forever, their tabernacles from generation to generation. They have called their names in their own lands.
Their inward thought [is, that] their houses [shall continue] for ever, [and] their dwelling places to all generations; they call [their] lands after their own names.
12 And man, when he was held in honor, did not understand. He has been compared to the senseless beasts, and he has become like them.
Nevertheless man [being] in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts [that] perish.
13 This way of theirs is a scandal to them. And afterwards, they will delight in their mouth.
This their way [is] their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. (Selah)
14 They have been placed in Hell like sheep. Death will feed on them. And the just will have dominion over them in the morning. And their help will grow old in Hell for their glory. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. (Sheol h7585)
15 Even so, truly God will redeem my soul from the hand of Hell, when he will receive me. (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Do not be afraid, when a man will have been made rich, and when the glory of his house will have been multiplied.
Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dies, he will take nothing away, and his glory will not descend with him.
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
18 For his soul will be blessed in his lifetime, and he will admit to you when you do good to him.
Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and [men] will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
19 He will even enter with the progeny of his fathers, but, even in eternity, he will not see the light.
He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
20 Man, when he was in honor, did not understand. He has been compared to the senseless beasts, and he has become like them.
Man [that is] in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts [that] perish.
