< Psalms 49 >

1 Unto the end, a psalm for the sons of Core. Hear these things, all ye nations: give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.
For the end, a Psalm for the sons of Core. Hear these words, all you nations, listen, all you that dwell upon the earth:
2 All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: both rich and poor together.
both the sons of mean men, and sons of [great] men; the rich and poor [man] together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom: and the meditation of my heart understanding.
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring [forth] understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my proposition on the psaltery.
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.
5 Why shall I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall encompass me.
Therefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.
6 They that trust in their own strength, and glory in the multitude of their riches,
They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—
7 No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: he shall not give to God his ransom,
A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,
8 Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: and shall labour for ever,
or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labor for ever,
9 And shall still live unto the end.
and live to the end, [so] that he should not see corruption.
10 He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying: the senseless and the fool shall perish together: And they shall leave their riches to strangers:
When he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.
11 And their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever. Their dwelling places to all generations: they have called their lands by their names.
And their sepulchres are their houses for ever, [even] their tabernacles to all generations: they have called their lands after their own names.
12 And man when he was in honour did not understand; he is compared to senseless beasts, and is become like to them.
And man being in honor, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.
13 This way of theirs is a stumblingblock to them: and afterwards they shall delight in their mouth.
This their way is an offense to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. (Pause)
14 They are laid in hell like sheep: death shall feed upon them. And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their help shall decay in hell from their glory. (Sheol h7585)
They have laid [them] as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory. (Sheol h7585)
15 But God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, when he shall receive me. (Sheol h7585)
But God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not thou afraid, when a man shall be made rich, and when the glory of his house shall be increased.
Fear not when a man is enriched, and when the glory of his house is increased.
17 For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; nor shall his glory descend with him.
For he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.
18 For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: and he will praise thee when thou shalt do well to him.
For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to you when you do well to him.
19 He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: and he shall never see light.
[Yet] he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.
20 Man when he was in honour did not understand: he hath been compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them.
Man that is in honor, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.

< Psalms 49 >