Psalms 49

1 To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:

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 men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.

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

3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of 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 upon the harp.

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

5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth 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 depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ...

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

7 None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,

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

8 (For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever, )

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

9 That he should still live perpetually, [and] not see corruption.

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

10 For he seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they leave their wealth to others.

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 Their inward thought is, that their houses are for ever, their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the 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 Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

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

13 This their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings. (Selah)

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 Like sheep are they laid in Sheol: Death feedeth on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their comeliness shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for them. (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 will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol: for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

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

16 Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, 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 when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.

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

18 Though he blessed his soul in his lifetime, — and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself, —

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 It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they 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, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

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