Psalms 49
1 For the music director. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Listen to this, everyone! Pay attention, people of the world—
For the Leader; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. 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 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 dark saying 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 evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters compasseth me about,
6 They trust in their wealth; they boast about their riches,
Of them that 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.
No man 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 too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever —
9 that they could live forever and not face the grave.
That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit.
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, the fool and the brutish together 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 shall continue for ever, and 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.
But man abideth not in honour; 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 is the way of them that are foolish, and of those who after them 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)
Like sheep they are appointed for the nether-world; death shall be their shepherd; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their form shall be for the nether-world to wear away, 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 the nether-world; for He shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Don't be disturbed when people become rich, filling their houses with possessions.
Be not thou afraid when one waxeth rich, when the wealth 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 wealth 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: 'Men will praise thee, when thou shalt do 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 the light.
20 Human beings, for all their fame, don't understand, and they die, just like the animals.
Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.
