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 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 the low and the sons of the high, rich and needy, altogether.
Both high and low, rich and poor alike!
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my mind shall be 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 poem; I will utter my song upon the harp.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my oppressors encompasseth me?—
Why should I fear in the days of adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries encompasseth me;
6 Of those that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves of the multitude of their riches?
They who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness of their wealth?
7 No one can in any wise redeem his brother, nor can he give to God redemption money for himself;
No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,
8 For the ransom of their soul is too costly, and it is omitted for ever.
That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.
9 And should he still live for ever? not see the pit?
Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.
10 For he must see that wise men die, that together the fool and the brutish person perish and leave to others their wealth.
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 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.
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 Nevertheless man in [his] splendor endureth not: he is like the beasts [that] perish.
Yet man, who is in honor, abideth not; He is like the beasts that perish.
13 This is their way, their folly: yet their posterity will take pleasure in their sayings. (Selah)
Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. (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)
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 will redeem my soul from the power of the nether world; for he will take me away. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my life from the underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not thou afraid when a man becometh rich, 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 when he dieth he can take nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.
For, when he dieth, he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.
18 For though he bless his soul during his life, and men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself:
Though in his life he thought himself happy, —Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity, —
19 She shall go to the generation of his fathers, unto eternity will these never see light.
Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!
20 Man, though in splendor, who understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. °
The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.
