Psalms 49
1 For the music director. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Listen to this, everyone! Pay attention, people of the world—
Hear this, all ye peoples. Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,
2 whether you are highborn or lowborn, rich or poor!
both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 For what I say is wise, and my thinking is perceptive.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4 I pay attention to wise sayings; I answer hard questions to a tune on the harp.
I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Why should I be afraid when trouble comes, when evil enemies surround me?
Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels encompasses me about?
6 They trust in their wealth; they boast about their riches,
Those who trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches,
7 but no one can pay to rescue another from death; no one can pay a ransom to God.
none can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him
8 Redemption is beyond price; no one could ever pay enough
(for the redemption of their life is costly, and it fails forever),
9 that they could live forever and not face the grave.
that he should still live always, that he should not see corruption.
10 Everyone knows that the wise die, those who are foolish and stupid too, leaving what they have to the next generation.
For he shall see it. Wise men die. The fool and the brutish alike perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 They think their homes will last forever, that where they live will continue for all generations.
Their inward thought is that their houses are forever, their dwelling-places to all generations. They call their lands after their own names.
12 But human beings, for all their fame, don't understand. They die, just like the animals.
Even a man in splendor does not abide. He is like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the way of foolish people, yet those who come after them think they were clever! (Selah)
This their way is their folly. Yet after them men approve their sayings. (Selah)
14 Like sheep they are destined for the grave. Death will be their shepherd. Those who live right will rule over them in the morning. Their bodies will decay in the grave, far from their homes. (Sheol h7585)
They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for it. (Sheol h7585)
15 But surely God will rescue me from the power of the grave; he will grab me back. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Don't be disturbed when people become rich, filling their houses with possessions.
Be not thou afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.
17 For they won't take anything with them when they die; their wealth will not go down into the grave with them.
For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.
18 They congratulate themselves for all they possess—people always praise you when you do well—
Though while he lived he blessed his soul (and men praise thee, when thou do well for thyself),
19 but their destiny is the same as their forefathers: they will never again see the light of day.
he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
20 Human beings, for all their fame, don't understand, and they die, just like the animals.
A man who is in splendor, and understands not, is like the beasts that perish.
