Psalms 49
1 To the Overseer. — By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.
Unto the end. A Psalm to the sons of Korah. Hear these things, all nations. Pay attention, all inhabitants of the world:
2 Both low and high, together rich and needy.
whoever is earth-born, you sons of men, together as one, the rich and the poor.
3 My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.
My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will speak prudence.
4 I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:
I will incline my ear to a parable. I will open my case with the psaltery.
5 Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.
Why should I fear in the evil day? The iniquity at my heel will surround me.
6 Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.
Those who trust in their own strength and who glory in the multitude of their riches,
7 A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.
no brother redeems, nor will man buy back. He will not give to God his appeasement,
8 And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased — to the age.
nor the price for the redemption of his soul. And he will labor continuously,
9 And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.
and he will still live, until the end.
10 For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.
He will not see death, when he sees the wise dying: the foolish and the senseless will perish together. And they will leave their riches to strangers.
11 Their heart [is]: Their houses [are] to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.
And their sepulchers will be their houses forever, their tabernacles from generation to generation. They have called their names in their own lands.
12 And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.
And man, when he was held in honor, did not understand. He has been compared to the senseless beasts, and he has become like them.
13 This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. (Selah)
This way of theirs is a scandal to them. And afterwards, they will delight in their mouth.
14 As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form [is] for consumption. Sheol [is] a dwelling for him. (Sheol h7585)
They have been placed in Hell like sheep. Death will feed on them. And the just will have dominion over them in the morning. And their help will grow old in Hell for their glory. (Sheol h7585)
15 Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
Even so, truly God will redeem my soul from the hand of Hell, when he will receive me. (Sheol h7585)
16 Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,
Do not be afraid, when a man will have been made rich, and when the glory of his house will have been multiplied.
17 For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.
For when he dies, he will take nothing away, and his glory will not descend with him.
18 For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)
For his soul will be blessed in his lifetime, and he will admit to you when you do good to him.
19 It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.
He will even enter with the progeny of his fathers, but, even in eternity, he will not see the light.
20 Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!
Man, when he was in honor, did not understand. He has been compared to the senseless beasts, and he has become like them.
