Psalms 49
1 Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
For the music director. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Listen to this, everyone! Pay attention, people of the world—
2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
whether you are highborn or lowborn, rich or poor!
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
For what I say is wise, and my thinking is perceptive.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
I pay attention to wise sayings; I answer hard questions to a tune on the harp.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
Why should I be afraid when trouble comes, when evil enemies surround me?
6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
They trust in their wealth; they boast about their riches,
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
but no one can pay to rescue another from death; no one can pay a ransom to God.
8 ( For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever: )
Redemption is beyond price; no one could ever pay enough
9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
that they could live forever and not face the grave.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
Everyone knows that the wise die, those who are foolish and stupid too, leaving what they have to the next generation.
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.
They think their homes will last forever, that where they live will continue for all generations.
12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
But human beings, for all their fame, don't understand. They die, just like the animals.
13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. (Selah)
This is the way of foolish people, yet those who come after them think they were clever! (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 sheep they are destined for the grave. Death will be their shepherd. Those who live right will rule over them in the morning. Their bodies will decay in the grave, far from their homes. (Sheol h7585)
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
But surely God will rescue me from the power of the grave; he will grab me back. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
Don't be disturbed when people become rich, filling their houses with possessions.
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
For they won't take anything with them when they die; their wealth will not go down into the grave with them.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
They congratulate themselves for all they possess—people always praise you when you do well—
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
but their destiny is the same as their forefathers: they will never again see the light of day.
20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Human beings, for all their fame, don't understand, and they die, just like the animals.
