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:
For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world
2 whoever is earth-born, you sons of men, together as one, the rich and the poor.
people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.
3 My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will speak prudence.
My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.
4 I will incline my ear to a parable. I will open my case with the psaltery.
I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.
5 Why should I fear in the evil day? The iniquity at my heel will surround me.
Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,
6 Those who trust in their own strength and who glory in the multitude of their riches,
who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?
7 no brother redeems, nor will man buy back. He will not give to God his appeasement,
For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,
8 nor the price for the redemption of his soul. And he will labor continuously,
for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 and he will still live, until the end.
to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.
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.
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 sepulchers will be their houses forever, their tabernacles from generation to generation. They have called their names in their own lands.
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, when he was held in honor, did not understand. He has been compared to the senseless beasts, and he has become like them.
Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.
13 This way of theirs is a scandal to them. And afterwards, they will delight in their mouth.
This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (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 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 Even so, truly God will redeem my soul from the hand of Hell, when he will receive me. (Sheol h7585)
But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will 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.
So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.
17 For when he dies, he will take nothing away, and his glory will not descend with him.
Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.
18 For his soul will be blessed in his lifetime, and he will admit to you when you do good to him.
Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,
19 He will even enter with the progeny of his fathers, but, even in eternity, he will not see the light.
they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.
20 Man, when he was in honor, did not understand. He has been compared to the senseless beasts, and he has become like them.
The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.
