Psalms 49

1 For the end, a Psalm for the sons of Core. Hear these words, all you nations, listen, all you that dwell upon the earth:

For the Leader; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,

2 both the sons of mean men, and sons of [great] men; the rich and poor [man] together.

Both low and high, rich and poor together.

3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring [forth] understanding.

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

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.

I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

5 Therefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.

Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters compasseth me about,

6 They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—

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

7 A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,

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

8 or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labor for ever,

For too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever —

9 and live to the end, [so] that he should not see corruption.

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

10 When he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.

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

11 And their sepulchres are their houses for ever, [even] their tabernacles to all generations: they have called their lands after their own names.

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.

12 And man being in honor, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.

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

13 This their way is an offense to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. (Pause)

This is the way of them that are foolish, and of those who after them approve their sayings. (Selah)

14 They have laid [them] as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory. (Sheol h7585)

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)

15 But God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the nether-world; for He shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

16 Fear not when a man is enriched, and when the glory of his house is increased.

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

17 For he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.

For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; his wealth shall not descend after him.

18 For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to you when you do well to him.

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

19 [Yet] he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.

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

20 Man that is in honor, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.

Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.