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,
Hear this, all ye people; 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 of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of 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 heels shall compass me about?
6 Why should I fear those who trust in their wealth and boast about the amount of their riches?
They 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,
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to Elohim a ransom for him:
8 For the redemption of one's life is costly, and no one can pay what we owe.
(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever: )
9 No one can live forever so that his body should not decay.
That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
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, likewise the fool and the brutish person 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.
Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This, their way, is their folly; yet after them, men approve of their sayings. (Selah)
This their way is their folly: yet their posterity 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 laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. (Sheol h7585)
But Elohim will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: 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 is made rich, when the glory 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 glory 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: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
19 he will go to the generation of his fathers and they will never see the light again.
He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
20 One who has wealth but no understanding is like the beasts, which perish.
Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
