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 chief musician. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,
2 As well lowe as hie, both rich and poore.
both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speake of wisdome, and the meditation of mine heart is of knowledge.
My mouth will speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart will be of understanding.
4 I will incline mine eare to a parable, and vtter my graue matter vpon the harpe.
I will incline my ear to a parable; I will begin my parable with 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 the days of evil, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels?
6 They trust in their goods, and boast them selues in the multitude of their riches.
Why should I fear those who trust in their wealth and boast about the amount of their riches?
7 Yet a man can by no meanes redeeme his brother: he can not giue his raunsome to God,
It is certain that no one can redeem his brother or give God a ransom for him,
8 (So precious is the redemption of their soules, and the continuance for euer)
For the redemption of one's life is costly, and no one can pay what we owe.
9 That he may liue still for euer, and not see the graue.
No one can live forever so that his body should not decay.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, and also that the ignorant and foolish perish, and leaue their riches for others.
For he will see decay. Wise men die; the fool and the brute alike perish 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.
Their inner thought is that their families will continue forever, and the places where they live, to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 But man shall not continue in honour: he is like the beastes that die.
But man, having wealth, does not remain alive; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way vttereth their foolishnes: yet their posteritie delite in their talke. (Selah)
This, their way, is their folly; yet after them, men approve of their sayings. (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)
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol, and death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their bodies will be consumed in Sheol, with no place for them to live. (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 power of Sheol; he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not thou afrayd when one is made rich, and when the glory of his house is increased.
Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, and the glory of his house increases.
17 For he shall take nothing away when he dieth, neither shall his pompe descende after him.
For when he dies 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.
He blessed his soul while he lived— and men praise you when you live 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 and they will never see the light again.
20 Man is in honour, and vnderstandeth not: he is like to beasts that perish.
One who has wealth but no understanding is like the beasts, which perish.
