Psalms 49
1 [For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.] Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:
2 both low and high, rich and poor together.
Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding:
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.
5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who deceive me surrounds me?
Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? —
6 They trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches.
They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ...
7 Truly these cannot redeem a person, nor give to God a ransom for him.
None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,
8 For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
(For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever, )
9 that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.
That he should still live perpetually, [and] not see corruption.
10 For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.
For he seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they leave their wealth to others.
11 Their tombs are their homes forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
Their inward thought is, that their houses are for ever, their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the lands after their own names.
12 But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish.
Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. (Selah)
This their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings. (Selah)
14 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)
Like sheep are they laid in Sheol: Death feedeth on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their comeliness shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for them. (Sheol h7585)
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol: for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Do not be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.
Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased:
17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.
For when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul—and men praise you when you do well for yourself?
Though he blessed his soul in his lifetime, — and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself, —
19 he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.
20 A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.
Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
