< 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.
2 Both low and high, together rich and needy.
3 My mouth speaks wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.
4 I incline my ear to an allegory, I open my riddle with a harp:
5 Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters surrounds me.
6 Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Show themselves foolish.
7 A brother ransoms no one at all, He does not give to God his atonement.
8 And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it has ceased for all time.
9 And still he lives forever, He does not see the pit.
10 For he sees wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left 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.
12 And man does not remain in honor, He has been like the beasts, they have been cut off.
13 This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity are pleased with 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 )
15 Only, God ransoms my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He receives me. (Selah) (Sheol )
16 Do not fear when one makes wealth, When the glory of his house is abundant,
17 For at his death he receives nothing, His glory does not go down after him.
18 For he blesses his soul in his life (And they praise you when you do well for yourself).
19 It comes to the generation of his fathers, They do not see the light forever.
20 Man in honor, who does not understand, Has been like the beasts, they have been cut off!
