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,
“For the leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Hear this, all ye nations; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world;
2 As well lowe as hie, both rich and poore.
Both high and low, rich and poor alike!
3 My mouth shall speake of wisdome, and the meditation of mine heart is of knowledge.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my mind shall be understanding.
4 I will incline mine eare to a parable, and vtter my graue matter vpon the harpe.
I will incline mine ear to a poem; I will utter my song upon the harp.
5 Wherefore should I feare in the euil dayes, when iniquitie shall compasse me about, as at mine heeles?
Why should I fear in the days of adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries encompasseth me;
6 They trust in their goods, and boast them selues in the multitude of their riches.
They who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness of their wealth?
7 Yet a man can by no meanes redeeme his brother: he can not giue his raunsome to God,
No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,
8 (So precious is the redemption of their soules, and the continuance for euer)
That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.
9 That he may liue still for euer, and not see the graue.
Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, and also that the ignorant and foolish perish, and leaue their riches for others.
For he seeth that wise men die, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, And leave their wealth 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.
They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.
12 But man shall not continue in honour: he is like the beastes that die.
Yet man, who is in honor, abideth not; He is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way vttereth their foolishnes: yet their posteritie delite in their talke. (Selah)
Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. (Pause)
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)
Like sheep they are cast into the underworld; Death shall feed upon them; And the upright shall soon trample upon them. Their form shall be consumed in the underworld, And they shall no more have a dwelling-place. (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 redeem my life from the underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not thou afrayd when one is made rich, and when the glory of his house is increased.
Be not thou afraid, when one becometh rich; When 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, when he dieth, he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.
18 For while he liued, he reioyced himselfe: and men will prayse thee, when thou makest much of thy selfe.
Though in his life he thought himself happy, —Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity, —
19 He shall enter into the generation of his fathers, and they shall not liue for euer.
Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!
20 Man is in honour, and vnderstandeth not: he is like to beasts that perish.
The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.
