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:

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,

2 Both low and high, rich and poor together.

both low and high, rich and poor together.

3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding.

My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart will utter understanding.

4 I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle on the harp.

5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, [when] the iniquity of my heels shall encompass me?

Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

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

Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—

7 None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.

8 (For the redemption of their soul [is] precious, and it ceaseth for ever: )

For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

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

that he should live on forever, that he should 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 sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and 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 will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

12 Nevertheless man [being] in honor abideth not: he is like the beasts [that] perish.

But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish.

13 This their way [is] their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. (Selah)

This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve 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 are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. (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;

Don’t be afraid when a man is made 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 dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.

18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and [men] will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—

19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.

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

A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.