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 chief musician. 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, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
My mouth will speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart will 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 begin my parable 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 the days of evil, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels?
6 Of them that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves 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 No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him —
It is certain that no one can redeem his brother or give God a ransom for him,
8 For too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever —
For the redemption of one's life is costly, and no one can pay what we owe.
9 That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit.
No one can live forever so that his body should not decay.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, the fool and the brutish together perish, and leave their wealth to others.
For he will see decay. Wise men die; the fool and the brute alike 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 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 abideth not in honour; he is like the beasts that perish.
But man, having wealth, does not remain alive; 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, their way, is their folly; yet after them, men approve of 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 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 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 the power of Sheol; he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not thou afraid when one waxeth rich, when the wealth of his house is increased;
Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, and the glory 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 take nothing away; his glory will 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';
He blessed his soul while he lived— and men praise you when you live for yourself—
19 It shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light.
he will go to the generation of his fathers and they will never see the light again.
20 Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.
One who has wealth but no understanding is like the beasts, which perish.
