Psalms 49

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all [ye] people; give ear, all [ye] 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 shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding.

My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding:

4 I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon 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 my heels shall encompass me?

Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? —

6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ...

7 None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, 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 soul [is] precious, and it ceaseth for ever: )

(For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever, )

9 That he should still live for ever, [and] not see corruption.

That he should still live perpetually, [and] not see corruption.

10 For he seeth [that] wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person 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 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.

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 Nevertheless man [being] in honor abideth not: 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 their posterity approve their sayings. (Selah)

This their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings. (Selah)

14 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)

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 the grave: for he shall 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 Be not thou afraid when one 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 dieth 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] will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

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 light.

It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.

20 Man [that is] in honor, and understandeth not, is like the beasts [that] perish.

Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.