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:
For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world
2 Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.
people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding:
My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.
I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? —
Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,
6 They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ...
who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?
7 None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,
For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,
8 (For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever, )
for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 That he should still live perpetually, [and] not see corruption.
to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.
10 For he seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they leave their wealth to others.
But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon their wealth 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 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 Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.
13 This their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings. (Selah)
This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (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 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 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol: for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased:
So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.
17 For when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.
Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.
18 Though he blessed his soul in his lifetime, — and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself, —
Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,
19 It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.
they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.
20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.
