< 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 leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world
2 All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: both rich and poor together.
people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom: and the meditation of my heart understanding.
My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.
4 I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my proposition on the psaltery.
I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.
5 Why shall I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall encompass me.
Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,
6 They that trust in their own strength, and glory in the multitude of their riches,
who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?
7 No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: he shall not give to God his ransom,
For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,
8 Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: and shall labour for ever,
for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 And shall still live unto the end.
to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.
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:
But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon their wealth to others.
11 And their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever. Their dwelling places to all generations: they have called their lands by their 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 And man when he was in honour did not understand; he is compared to senseless beasts, and is become like to them.
Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.
13 This way of theirs is a stumblingblock to them: and afterwards they shall delight in their mouth.
This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (Selah)
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)
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 hand of hell, when he shall receive me. (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 thou afraid, when a man shall be made rich, and when the glory of his house shall be increased.
So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.
17 For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; nor shall his glory descend with him.
Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.
18 For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: and he will praise thee when thou shalt do well to him.
Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,
19 He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: and he shall never see light.
they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.
20 Man when he was in honour did not understand: he hath been compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them.
The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.

< Psalms 49 >