Psalms 49
1 For the chief musician. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,
For the Leader; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor together.
Both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth will speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart will be of understanding.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a parable; I will begin my parable with the harp.
I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Why should I fear the days of evil, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels?
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters compasseth me about,
6 Why should I fear those who trust in their wealth and boast about the amount of their riches?
Of them that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches?
7 It is certain that no one can redeem his brother or give God a ransom for him,
No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him —
8 For the redemption of one's life is costly, and no one can pay what we owe.
For too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever —
9 No one can live forever so that his body should not decay.
That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit.
10 For he will see decay. Wise men die; the fool and the brute alike perish and leave their wealth to others.
For he seeth that wise men die, the fool and the brutish together perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inner thought is that their families will continue forever, and the places where they live, to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling-places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 But man, having wealth, does not remain alive; he is like the beasts that perish.
But man abideth not in honour; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This, their way, is their folly; yet after them, men approve of their sayings. (Selah)
This is the way of them that are foolish, and of those who after them approve their sayings. (Selah)
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol, and death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their bodies will be consumed in Sheol, with no place for them to live. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they are appointed for the nether-world; death shall be their shepherd; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their form shall be for the nether-world to wear away, that there be no habitation for it. (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the nether-world; for He shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, and the glory of his house increases.
Be not thou afraid when one waxeth rich, when the wealth of his house is increased;
17 For when he dies he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; his wealth shall not descend after him.
18 He blessed his soul while he lived— and men praise you when you live for yourself—
Though while he lived he blessed his soul: 'Men will praise thee, when thou shalt do well to thyself';
19 he will go to the generation of his fathers and they will never see the light again.
It shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light.
20 One who has wealth but no understanding is like the beasts, which perish.
Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.
