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,
“To the chief musician, by the sons of Korach, a psalm.” Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the perishable world:
2 Both low and high, rich and poor together.
Both the sons of the low and the sons of the high, rich and needy, altogether.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of 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 parable: I will open with the harp my riddle.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters compasseth me about,
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my oppressors encompasseth me?—
6 Of them that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches?
Of those that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves of the multitude of their riches?
7 No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him —
No one can in any wise redeem his brother, nor can he give to God redemption money for himself;
8 For too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever —
For the ransom of their soul is too costly, and it is omitted for ever.
9 That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit.
And should he still live for ever? not see the pit?
10 For he seeth that wise men die, the fool and the brutish together perish, and leave their wealth to others.
For he must see that wise men die, that together the fool and the brutish person perish and leave to others their wealth.
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 inward thought is, that their houses are to be for ever, their dwelling-places, from generation to generation; they call them by their own names in [various] countries.
12 But man abideth not in honour; he is like the beasts that perish.
Nevertheless man in [his] splendor endureth not: 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 their way, their folly: yet their posterity will take pleasure in their sayings. (Selah)
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 flocks are they thrust into the nether world; death will feed them; but the upright shall have dominion over them in that morning, and their form wasteth away in the nether world, [taken away] from their own dwelling. (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 soul from the power of the nether world; for he will take me away. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not thou afraid when one waxeth rich, when the wealth of his house is increased;
Be not thou afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; his wealth shall not descend after him.
For when he dieth he can take nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: 'Men will praise thee, when thou shalt do well to thyself';
For though he bless his soul during his life, and men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself:
19 It shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light.
She shall go to the generation of his fathers, unto eternity will these never see light.
20 Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.
Man, though in splendor, who understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. °
