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 chief musician. 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, rich and poor together.
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 be of understanding.
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 begin my parable with the harp.
5 Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.
Why should I fear the days of evil, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels?
6 Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.
Why should I fear those who trust in their wealth and boast about the amount of their riches?
7 A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.
It is certain that no one can redeem his brother or give God a ransom for him,
8 And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased — to the age.
For the redemption of one's life is costly, and no one can pay what we owe.
9 And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.
No one can live forever so that his body should not decay.
10 For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.
For he will see decay. Wise men die; the fool and the brute alike 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 inner thought is that their families will continue forever, and the places where they live, 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, having wealth, does not remain alive; 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, their way, is their folly; yet after them, men approve of 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 Sheol, and death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their bodies will be consumed in Sheol, with no place for them to live. (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 life from the power of Sheol; he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,
Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, and the glory of his house increases.
17 For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.
For when he dies he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
18 For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)
He blessed his soul while he lived— and men praise you when you live for yourself—
19 It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.
he will go to the generation of his fathers and they will never see the light again.
20 Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!
One who has wealth but no understanding is like the beasts, which perish.
