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 by the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, 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 words of wisdom. My heart will utter 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 solve my riddle on 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 the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

6 Of them that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches?

Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—

7 No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him —

none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor 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 their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

9 That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit.

that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.

10 For he seeth that wise men die, the fool and the brutish together perish, and leave their wealth to others.

For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless 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 inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

12 But man abideth not in honour; he is like the beasts that perish.

But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals 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 destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve 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)

They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. (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 Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

16 Be not thou afraid when one waxeth rich, when the wealth of his house is increased;

Don’t be afraid when a man is made 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 dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.

18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: 'Men will praise thee, when thou shalt do well to thyself';

Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—

19 It shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light.

he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.

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 animals that perish.