Psalms 49
1 To victorie, a salm to the sones of Chore. Alle ye folkis, here these thingis; alle ye that dwellen in the world, perseyue with eeris.
Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.
2 Alle the sones of erthe and the sones of men; togidere the riche man and the pore in to oon.
High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.
3 Mi mouth schal speke wisdom; and the thenkyng of myn herte schal speke prudence.
From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.
4 I schal bouwe doun myn eere in to a parable; Y schal opene my resoun set forth in a sautree.
I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.
5 Whi schal Y drede in the yuel dai? the wickidnesse of myn heele schal cumpasse me.
What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?
6 Whiche tristen in her owne vertu; and han glorie in the multitude of her richessis.
Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.
7 A brother ayenbieth not, schal a man ayenbie? and he schal not yyue to God his plesyng.
Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;
8 And he schal not yyue the prijs of raunsum of his soule; and he schal trauele with outen ende,
(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)
9 and he schal lyue yit in to the ende.
So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.
10 He schal not se perischyng, whanne he schal se wise men diynge; the vnwise man and fool schulen perische togidere. And thei schulen leeue her richessis to aliens;
For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.
11 and the sepulcris of hem ben the housis of hem with outen ende. The tabernaclis of hem ben in generacioun and generacioun; thei clepiden her names in her londis.
The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.
12 A man, whanne he was in honour, vndurstood not; he is comparisound to vnwise beestis, and he is maad lijk to tho.
But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
13 This weie of hem is sclaundir to hem; and aftirward thei schulen plese togidere in her mouth.
This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah)
14 As scheep thei ben set in helle; deth schal gnawe hem. And iust men schulen be lordis of hem in the morewtid; and the helpe of hem schal wexe eld in helle, for the glorie of hem. (Sheol h7585)
Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever. (Sheol h7585)
15 Netheles God schal ayenbie my soule from the power of helle; whanne he schal take me. (Sheol h7585)
But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Drede thou not, whanne a man is maad riche; and the glorie of his hows is multiplied.
Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;
17 For whanne he schal die, he schal not take alle thingis; and his glorie schal not go doun with him.
For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
18 For his soule schal be blessid in his lijf; he schal knouleche to thee, whanne thou hast do wel to hym.
Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,
19 He schal entre til in to the generaciouns of hise fadris; and til in to with outen ende he schal not se liyt.
He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.
20 A man, whanne he was in honour, vndurstood not; he is comparisound to vnwise beestis, and is maad lijk to tho.
Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
