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 OVERSEER. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. Hear this, all you peoples, Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world.
2 Both low and high, rich and poor together.
Both low and high, together rich and needy.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding.
My mouth speaks wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
I incline my ear to an allegory, I open my riddle with a harp:
5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, [when] the iniquity of my heels shall encompass me?
Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters surrounds me.
6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Show themselves foolish.
7 None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
A brother ransoms no one at all, He does not give to God his atonement.
8 (For the redemption of their soul [is] precious, and it ceaseth for ever: )
And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it has ceased for all time.
9 That he should still live for ever, [and] not see corruption.
And still he lives forever, He does not see the pit.
10 For he seeth [that] wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
For he sees wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left 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 heart [is that] their houses [are] for all time, Their dwelling places from generation to generation. They proclaimed their names over the lands.
12 Nevertheless man [being] in honor abideth not: he is like the beasts [that] perish.
And man does not remain in honor, He has been like the beasts, they have been cut off.
13 This their way [is] their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. (Selah)
This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity are pleased with 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)
They have set themselves as sheep for Sheol, Death afflicts them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form [is] for consumption. Sheol [is] a dwelling for him. (Sheol h7585)
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
Only, God ransoms my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He receives me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
Do not fear when one makes wealth, When the glory of his house is abundant,
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
For at his death he receives nothing, His glory does not go down after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and [men] will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
For he blesses his soul in his life (And they praise you when you do well for yourself).
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
It comes to the generation of his fathers, They do not see the light forever.
20 Man [that is] in honor, and understandeth not, is like the beasts [that] perish.
Man in honor, who does not understand, Has been like the beasts, they have been cut off!
