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.

TO THE OVERSEER. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. Hear this, all you peoples, Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world.

2 Both low and high, together rich and needy.

Both low and high, together rich and needy.

3 My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.

My mouth speaks wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.

4 I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:

I incline my ear to an allegory, I open my riddle with a harp:

5 Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.

Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters surrounds me.

6 Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.

Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Show themselves foolish.

7 A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.

A brother ransoms no one at all, He does not give to God his atonement.

8 And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased — to the age.

And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it has ceased for all time.

9 And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.

And still he lives forever, He does 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 sees wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left 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 heart [is that] their houses [are] for all time, Their dwelling places from generation to generation. They proclaimed their names over the lands.

12 And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.

And man does not remain in honor, He has been like the beasts, they have been cut off.

13 This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. (Selah)

This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity are pleased with 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)

They have set themselves as sheep for Sheol, Death afflicts them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form [is] for consumption. Sheol [is] a dwelling for him. (Sheol h7585)

15 Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

Only, God ransoms my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He receives me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

16 Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,

Do not fear when one makes wealth, When the glory of his house is abundant,

17 For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.

For at his death he receives nothing, His glory does not go down after him.

18 For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)

For he blesses his soul in his life (And they praise you when you do well for yourself).

19 It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.

It comes to the generation of his fathers, They do not see the light forever.

20 Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!

Man in honor, who does not understand, Has been like the beasts, they have been cut off!