< 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 OVERSEER. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. Hear this, all you peoples, Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world.
2 Both low and high, rich and poor together.
Both low and high, together rich and needy.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
My mouth speaks wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
I incline my ear to an allegory, I open my riddle with a harp:
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters compasseth me about,
Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters surrounds me.
6 Of them that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches?
Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Show themselves foolish.
7 No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him —
A brother ransoms no one at all, He does not give to God his atonement.
8 For too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever —
And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it has ceased for all time.
9 That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit.
And still he lives forever, He does 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 sees wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left 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 heart [is that] their houses [are] for all time, Their dwelling places from generation to generation. They proclaimed their names over the lands.
12 But man abideth not in honour; he is like the beasts that perish.
And man does not remain in honor, He has been like the beasts, they have been cut off.
13 This is the way of them that are foolish, and of those who after them approve their sayings. (Selah)
This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity are pleased with 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 )
They have set themselves as sheep for Sheol, Death afflicts them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form [is] for consumption. Sheol [is] a dwelling for him. (Sheol )
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the nether-world; for He shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol )
Only, God ransoms my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He receives me. (Selah) (Sheol )
16 Be not thou afraid when one waxeth rich, when the wealth of his house is increased;
Do not fear when one makes wealth, When the glory of his house is abundant,
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; his wealth shall not descend after him.
For at his death he receives nothing, His glory does not go down after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: 'Men will praise thee, when thou shalt do well to thyself';
For he blesses his soul in his life (And they praise you when you do well for yourself).
19 It shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light.
It comes to the generation of his fathers, They do not see the light forever.
20 Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.
Man in honor, who does not understand, Has been like the beasts, they have been cut off!