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 of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Hear this, all ye nations; 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 high and low, rich and poor alike!
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 mind 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 poem; I will utter my song upon the harp.
5 Therefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.
Why should I fear in the days of adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries encompasseth me;
6 They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—
They who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness of their wealth?
7 A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,
No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,
8 or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labor for ever,
That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.
9 and live to the end, [so] that he should not see corruption.
Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.
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, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, 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.
They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.
12 And man being in honor, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.
Yet man, who is in honor, abideth not; He is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way is an offense to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. (Pause)
Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. (Pause)
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 cast into the underworld; Death shall feed upon them; And the upright shall soon trample upon them. Their form shall be consumed in the underworld, And they shall no more have a dwelling-place. (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 life from the underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. (Pause) (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 becometh rich; When the glory 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 will carry nothing away; His glory will 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 in his life he thought himself happy, —Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity, —
19 [Yet] he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.
Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!
20 Man that is in honor, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.
The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.
