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:
“To the chief musician, by the sons of Korach, a psalm.” Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the perishable world:
2 Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.
Both the sons of the low and the sons of the high, rich and needy, altogether.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding:
My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.
I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open with the harp my riddle.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? —
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my oppressors encompasseth me?—
6 They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ...
Of those that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves of the multitude of their riches?
7 None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,
No one can in any wise redeem his brother, nor can he give to God redemption money for himself;
8 (For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever, )
For the ransom of their soul is too costly, and it is omitted for ever.
9 That he should still live perpetually, [and] not see corruption.
And should he still live for ever? not see the pit?
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 must see that wise men die, that together the fool and the brutish person perish and leave to others their wealth.
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.
Their inward thought is, that their houses are to be for ever, their dwelling-places, from generation to generation; they call them by their own names in [various] countries.
12 Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
Nevertheless man in [his] splendor endureth not: he is like the beasts [that] perish.
13 This their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings. (Selah)
This is their way, their folly: yet their posterity will take pleasure in their sayings. (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)
Like flocks are they thrust into the nether world; death will feed them; but the upright shall have dominion over them in that morning, and their form wasteth away in the nether world, [taken away] from their own dwelling. (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 redeem my soul from the power of the nether world; for he will take me away. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased:
Be not thou afraid when a man becometh rich, when 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 when he dieth he can take nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.
18 Though he blessed his soul in his lifetime, — and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself, —
For though he bless his soul during his life, and men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself:
19 It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.
She shall go to the generation of his fathers, unto eternity will these never see light.
20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Man, though in splendor, who understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. °
