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.

For the end, a Psalm for the sons of Core. Hear these words, all you nations, listen, all you that dwell upon the earth:

2 Alle the sones of erthe and the sones of men; togidere the riche man and the pore in to oon.

both the sons of mean men, and sons of [great] men; the rich and poor [man] together.

3 Mi mouth schal speke wisdom; and the thenkyng of myn herte schal speke prudence.

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

4 I schal bouwe doun myn eere in to a parable; Y schal opene my resoun set forth in a sautree.

I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.

5 Whi schal Y drede in the yuel dai? the wickidnesse of myn heele schal cumpasse me.

Therefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.

6 Whiche tristen in her owne vertu; and han glorie in the multitude of her richessis.

They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—

7 A brother ayenbieth not, schal a man ayenbie? and he schal not yyue to God his plesyng.

A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,

8 And he schal not yyue the prijs of raunsum of his soule; and he schal trauele with outen ende,

or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labour for ever,

9 and he schal lyue yit in to the ende.

and live to the end, [so] that he should not see corruption.

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;

When he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.

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.

And their sepulchres are their houses for ever, [even] their tabernacles to all generations: they have called their lands after their own names.

12 A man, whanne he was in honour, vndurstood not; he is comparisound to vnwise beestis, and he is maad lijk to tho.

And man being in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.

13 This weie of hem is sclaundir to hem; and aftirward thei schulen plese togidere in her mouth.

This their way is an offence to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. (Pause)

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)

They have laid [them] as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory. (Sheol h7585)

15 Netheles God schal ayenbie my soule from the power of helle; whanne he schal take me. (Sheol h7585)

But God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)

16 Drede thou not, whanne a man is maad riche; and the glorie of his hows is multiplied.

Fear not when a man is enriched, and when 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 he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.

18 For his soule schal be blessid in his lijf; he schal knouleche to thee, whanne thou hast do wel to hym.

For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to you when you do well to him.

19 He schal entre til in to the generaciouns of hise fadris; and til in to with outen ende he schal not se liyt.

[Yet] he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.

20 A man, whanne he was in honour, vndurstood not; he is comparisound to vnwise beestis, and is maad lijk to tho.

Man that is in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.