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 leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world
2 Alle the sones of erthe and the sones of men; togidere the riche man and the pore in to oon.
people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.
3 Mi mouth schal speke wisdom; and the thenkyng of myn herte schal speke prudence.
My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.
4 I schal bouwe doun myn eere in to a parable; Y schal opene my resoun set forth in a sautree.
I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.
5 Whi schal Y drede in the yuel dai? the wickidnesse of myn heele schal cumpasse me.
Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,
6 Whiche tristen in her owne vertu; and han glorie in the multitude of her richessis.
who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?
7 A brother ayenbieth not, schal a man ayenbie? and he schal not yyue to God his plesyng.
For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,
8 And he schal not yyue the prijs of raunsum of his soule; and he schal trauele with outen ende,
for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 and he schal lyue yit in to the ende.
to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.
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;
But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon their wealth 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 grave is their everlasting home, the place they shall live in for ever and ever, though after their own names they called whole lands.
12 A man, whanne he was in honour, vndurstood not; he is comparisound to vnwise beestis, and he is maad lijk to tho.
Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.
13 This weie of hem is sclaundir to hem; and aftirward thei schulen plese togidere in her mouth.
This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (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)
Like sheep they descend to Sheol with Death for their shepherd; down they go straight to the grave, and their form wastes away in their home below. (Sheol h7585)
15 Netheles God schal ayenbie my soule from the power of helle; whanne he schal take me. (Sheol h7585)
But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Drede thou not, whanne a man is maad riche; and the glorie of his hows is multiplied.
So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.
17 For whanne he schal die, he schal not take alle thingis; and his glorie schal not go doun with him.
Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.
18 For his soule schal be blessid in his lijf; he schal knouleche to thee, whanne thou hast do wel to hym.
Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,
19 He schal entre til in to the generaciouns of hise fadris; and til in to with outen ende he schal not se liyt.
they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.
20 A man, whanne he was in honour, vndurstood not; he is comparisound to vnwise beestis, and is maad lijk to tho.
The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.
