Psalms 49
1 “For the leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Hear this, all ye nations; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the 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 high and low, rich and poor alike!
both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my mind shall be understanding.
My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a poem; I will utter my song upon the harp.
I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
5 Why should I fear in the days of adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries encompasseth me;
Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who deceive me surrounds me?
6 They who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness of their wealth?
They trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches.
7 No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,
Truly these cannot redeem a person, nor give to God a ransom for him.
8 That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.
For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.
that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, And leave their wealth to others.
For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.
Their tombs are their homes forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
12 Yet man, who is in honor, abideth not; He is like the beasts that perish.
But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish.
13 Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. (Pause)
This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. (Selah)
14 Like sheep they are cast into the underworld; Death shall feed upon them; And the upright shall soon trample upon them. Their form shall be consumed in the underworld, And they shall no more have a dwelling-place. (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 life from the underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. (Pause) (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 one becometh rich; When the glory of his house is increased!
Do not be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.
17 For, when he dieth, he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.
For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though in his life he thought himself happy, —Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity, —
Though while he lived he blessed his soul—and men praise you when you do well for yourself?
19 Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!
he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
20 The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.
A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.
