Psalms 49
1 For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world
“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;
2 people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.
Both high and low, rich and poor alike!
3 My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my mind shall be understanding.
4 I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.
I will incline mine ear to a poem; I will utter my song upon the harp.
5 Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,
Why should I fear in the days of adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries encompasseth me;
6 who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?
They who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness of their wealth?
7 For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,
No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,
8 for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.
9 to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.
Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.
10 But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon their wealth to others.
For he seeth that wise men die, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, And leave their wealth to others.
11 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.
They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.
12 Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.
Yet man, who is in honor, abideth not; He is like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (Selah)
Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. (Pause)
14 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)
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)
15 But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my life from the underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)
16 So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.
Be not thou afraid, when one becometh rich; When the glory of his house is increased!
17 Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.
For, when he dieth, he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.
18 Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,
Though in his life he thought himself happy, —Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity, —
19 they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.
Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!
20 The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.
The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.
