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.
For the Leader; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high, together rich and needy.
Both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:
I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters compasseth me about,
6 Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.
Of them that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches?
7 A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.
No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him —
8 And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased — to the age.
For too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever —
9 And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.
That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit.
10 For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.
For he seeth that wise men die, the fool and the brutish together perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their heart [is]: Their houses [are] to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.
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.
12 And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.
But man abideth not in honour; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. (Selah)
This is the way of them that are foolish, and of those who after them approve their sayings. (Selah)
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)
Like sheep they are appointed for the nether-world; death shall be their shepherd; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their form shall be for the nether-world to wear away, that there be no habitation for it. (Sheol h7585)
15 Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the nether-world; for He shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,
Be not thou afraid when one waxeth rich, when the wealth of his house is increased;
17 For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; his wealth shall not descend after him.
18 For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)
Though while he lived he blessed his soul: 'Men will praise thee, when thou shalt do well to thyself';
19 It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.
It shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light.
20 Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!
Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.
