Psalms 49
1 TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. Hear this, all you peoples, Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world.
For the Leader; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high, together rich and needy.
Both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth speaks wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I incline my ear to an allegory, I open my riddle with a harp:
I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters surrounds me.
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters compasseth me about,
6 Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Show themselves foolish.
Of them that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches?
7 A brother ransoms no one at all, He does not give to God his atonement.
No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him —
8 And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it has ceased for all time.
For too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever —
9 And still he lives forever, He does not see the pit.
That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit.
10 For he sees wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left their wealth to others.
For he seeth that wise men die, the fool and the brutish together perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their heart [is that] their houses [are] for all time, Their dwelling places from generation to generation. They proclaimed their names over the lands.
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling-places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 And man does not remain in honor, He has been like the beasts, they have been cut off.
But man abideth not in honour; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity are pleased with their sayings. (Selah)
This is the way of them that are foolish, and of those who after them approve their sayings. (Selah)
14 They have set themselves as sheep for Sheol, Death afflicts them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form [is] for consumption. Sheol [is] a dwelling for him. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they are appointed for the nether-world; death shall be their shepherd; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their form shall be for the nether-world to wear away, that there be no habitation for it. (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the nether-world; for He shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Do not fear when one makes wealth, When the glory of his house is abundant,
Be not thou afraid when one waxeth rich, when the wealth of his house is increased;
17 For at his death he receives nothing, His glory does not go down after him.
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; his wealth shall not descend after him.
18 For he blesses his soul in his life (And they praise you when you do well for yourself).
Though while he lived he blessed his soul: 'Men will praise thee, when thou shalt do well to thyself';
19 It comes to the generation of his fathers, They do not see the light forever.
It shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light.
20 Man in honor, who does not understand, Has been like the beasts, they have been cut off!
Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.
