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 Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,

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

both low and high, rich and poor together.

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

My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart will utter understanding.

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

I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle on 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 evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

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

Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—

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

none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.

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

For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

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

that he should live on forever, 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.

For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, 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.

Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

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

But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish.

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

This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. (Selah)

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 appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. (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 soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

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

Don’t be afraid when a man is made 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 dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.

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

Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—

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

he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.

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

A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.