Psalms 49
1 For the music director. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Listen to this, everyone! Pay attention, people of the world—
To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:
2 whether you are highborn or lowborn, rich or poor!
Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.
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 mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.
5 Why should I be afraid when trouble comes, when evil enemies surround me?
Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? —
6 They trust in their wealth; they boast about their riches,
They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance 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 soul is costly, and must be given up for ever, )
9 that they could live forever and not face the grave.
That he should still live perpetually, [and] 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 seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they 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 for ever, their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the lands after their own names.
12 But human beings, for all their fame, don't understand. They die, just like the animals.
Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: 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 they that come after them delight in 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)
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)
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 afraid when a man becometh 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 dieth, 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 he blessed his soul in his lifetime, — and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself, —
19 but their destiny is the same as their forefathers: they will never again see the light of day.
It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.
20 Human beings, for all their fame, don't understand, and they die, just like the animals.
Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
