Psalms 49
1 For the Leader; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high, rich and poor together.
both low and high, rich and poor alike.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters compasseth me about,
Why should I fear in times of trouble, when wicked usurpers surround me?
6 Of them that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches?
They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
7 No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him —
No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.
8 For too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever —
For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice,
9 That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit.
that he should live on forever and not see decay.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, the fool and the brutish together perish, and leave their wealth to others.
For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.
11 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.
Their graves are their eternal homes— their dwellings for endless generations— even though their lands were their namesakes.
12 But man abideth not in honour; he is like the beasts that perish.
But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the way of them that are foolish, and of those who after them approve their sayings. (Selah)
This is the fate of the self-confident and their followers who endorse their sayings.
14 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)
Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode. (Sheol h7585)
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the nether-world; for He shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not thou afraid when one waxeth rich, when the wealth of his house is increased;
Do not be amazed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; his wealth shall not descend after him.
For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: 'Men will praise thee, when thou shalt do well to thyself';
Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul— and men praise you when you prosper—
19 It shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light.
he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.
20 Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.
A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
