< 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 )
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 )
15 But God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, when he shall receive me. (Sheol )
But God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. (Pause) (Sheol )
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.