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. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world
2 Both low and high, together rich and needy.
people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.
3 My mouth speaks wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.
My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.
4 I incline my ear to an allegory, I open my riddle with a harp:
I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.
5 Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters surrounds me.
Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,
6 Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Show themselves foolish.
who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?
7 A brother ransoms no one at all, He does not give to God his atonement.
For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,
8 And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it has ceased for all time.
for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 And still he lives forever, He does not see the pit.
to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.
10 For he sees wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left their wealth to others.
But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon 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.
The grave is their everlasting home, the place they shall live in for ever and ever, though after their own names they called whole lands.
12 And man does not remain in honor, He has been like the beasts, they have been cut off.
Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.
13 This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity are pleased with their sayings. (Selah)
This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (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 descend to Sheol with Death for their shepherd; down they go straight to the grave, and their form wastes away in their home below. (Sheol h7585)
But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Do not fear when one makes wealth, When the glory of his house is abundant,
So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.
17 For at his death he receives nothing, His glory does not go down after him.
Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.
18 For he blesses his soul in his life (And they praise you when you do well for yourself).
Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,
19 It comes to the generation of his fathers, They do not see the light forever.
they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.
20 Man in honor, who does not understand, Has been like the beasts, they have been cut off!
The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.
