Psalms 49
1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme committed to the sonnes of Korah. Heare this, all ye people: giue eare, all ye that dwell in the world,
Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.
2 As well lowe as hie, both rich and poore.
High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.
3 My mouth shall speake of wisdome, and the meditation of mine heart is of knowledge.
From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.
4 I will incline mine eare to a parable, and vtter my graue matter vpon the harpe.
I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.
5 Wherefore should I feare in the euil dayes, when iniquitie shall compasse me about, as at mine heeles?
What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?
6 They trust in their goods, and boast them selues in the multitude of their riches.
Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.
7 Yet a man can by no meanes redeeme his brother: he can not giue his raunsome to God,
Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;
8 (So precious is the redemption of their soules, and the continuance for euer)
(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)
9 That he may liue still for euer, and not see the graue.
So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, and also that the ignorant and foolish perish, and leaue their riches for others.
For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.
11 Yet they thinke, their houses, and their habitations shall continue for euer, euen from generation to generation, and call their lands by their names.
The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.
12 But man shall not continue in honour: he is like the beastes that die.
But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
13 This their way vttereth their foolishnes: yet their posteritie delite in their talke. (Selah)
This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah)
14 Like sheepe they lie in graue: death deuoureth them, and the righteous shall haue domination ouer them in the morning: for their beautie shall consume, when they shall goe from their house to graue. (Sheol h7585)
Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever. (Sheol h7585)
15 But God shall deliuer my soule from the power of the graue: for he will receiue me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not thou afrayd when one is made rich, and when the glory of his house is increased.
Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;
17 For he shall take nothing away when he dieth, neither shall his pompe descende after him.
For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
18 For while he liued, he reioyced himselfe: and men will prayse thee, when thou makest much of thy selfe.
Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,
19 He shall enter into the generation of his fathers, and they shall not liue for euer.
He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.
20 Man is in honour, and vnderstandeth not: he is like to beasts that perish.
Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
