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, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all [ye] people; give ear, all [ye] inhabitants of the world:

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

Both low and high, rich and poor together.

3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding:

My mouth shall speak of 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 my dark saying upon the harp.

5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? —

Why should I fear in the days of evil, [when] the iniquity of my heels shall encompass me?

6 They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ...

They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

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

None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

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

(For the redemption of their soul [is] precious, and it ceaseth for ever: )

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

That he should still live for ever, [and] not see corruption.

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 seeth [that] wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave 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.

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 Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

Nevertheless man [being] in honor abideth 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 their way [is] their folly: yet their posterity approve 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 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 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 grave: for he shall receive me. (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 one is made 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 shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

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

Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and [men] will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

19 It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.

He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

Man [that is] in honor, and understandeth not, is like the beasts [that] perish.