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:
You people of all ethnic groups, listen! You people all over the world,
2 Both the sons of the low and the sons of the high, rich and needy, altogether.
important people and unimportant people, rich people and poor people, everyone, [listen to what I am saying],
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
[because] what I am thinking is very sensible, and what I say will enable you to become wise!
4 I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open with the harp my riddle.
I think about [MTY] (proverbs/wise sayings), and while I play my harp, I explain what they mean.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my oppressors encompasseth me?—
I am not [RHQ] afraid when I am in trouble/danger, when I am surrounded by my enemies,
6 Of those that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves of the multitude of their riches?
by evil men who trust that [things will always go well for them because] they are wealthy, and who boast about being very rich.
7 No one can in any wise redeem his brother, nor can he give to God redemption money for himself;
[They may be rich], but no one can pay money with the result that he would live forever! No one can pay God enough so that God will allow him [to continue] to live,
8 For the ransom of their soul is too costly, and it is omitted for ever.
because that cost is too great, and he will never be able to pay enough
9 And should he still live for ever? not see the pit?
with the result that he will live forever and never [die and] be buried!
10 For he must see that wise men die, that together the fool and the brutish person perish and leave to others their wealth.
We see that foolish and stupid people die, but we see that wise people also die; they all leave their wealth, and others inherit it.
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.
Those wise people once had [houses on] land that they owned, [but now] their graves are their homes forever, the place where they will stay for all time!
12 Nevertheless man in [his] splendor endureth not: he is like the beasts [that] perish.
Even if people are great, that cannot prevent them from dying; all people die, the same as animals do.
13 This is their way, their folly: yet their posterity will take pleasure in their sayings. (Selah)
That is what happens to those who foolishly trust [in what they have accomplished], to those who are delighted in [all] that they possess.
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 are certain to die just like sheep, when a shepherd leads them away to be slaughtered. [PRS, MET] In the morning righteous people will rule over them, and then [those wealthy people will die and] their bodies will quickly decay in their graves; they will be where dead people are, far from their homes. (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 it is certain that God will rescue me so that I am not kept in the place of the dead. (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not thou afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
[So], do not be dismayed when someone becomes rich and the houses where they live become more and more luxurious,
17 For when he dieth he can take nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.
because when he dies, he will take nothing with him; his wealth will not go with him.
18 For though he bless his soul during his life, and men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself:
While [a rich person] is alive, he congratulates himself, and people praise him for being successful,
19 She shall go to the generation of his fathers, unto eternity will these never see light.
but he will [die], joining his ancestors, who will never see daylight again.
20 Man, though in splendor, who understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. °
Even if someone is great, that cannot prevent him from dying; he will die, the same as animals do.
