Psalms 49

1 “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:

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

2 Both the sons of the low and the sons of the high, rich and needy, altogether.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7 No one can in any wise redeem his brother, nor can he give to God redemption money for himself;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11 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.

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

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

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

13 This is their way, their folly: yet their posterity will take pleasure in their sayings. (Selah)

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

14 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)

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)

15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the nether world; for he will take me away. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

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

16 Be not thou afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

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

17 For when he dieth he can take nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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