Psalms 49

1 Hear this, all you people; give ear, all you 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 of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

4 I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying on the harp.

I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open with the harp my riddle.

5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my oppressors encompasseth me?—

6 They 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 None of them 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 the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceases for ever: )

For the ransom of their soul is too costly, and it is omitted for ever.

9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

And should he still live for ever? not see the pit?

10 For he sees that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person 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 Nevertheless man being in honor stays not: he is like the beasts that perish.

Nevertheless man in [his] splendor endureth not: he is like the beasts [that] perish.

13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity 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 laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. (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 grave: 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 you afraid when one is made rich, when the glory 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 dies he shall carry nothing away: his glory 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: and men will praise you, when you do well to yourself.

For though he bless his soul during his life, and men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself:

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

She shall go to the generation of his fathers, unto eternity will these never see light.

20 Man that is in honor, and understands not, is like the beasts that perish.

Man, though in splendor, who understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. °