Zaburi 49
1 Kwa mwimbishaji. Zaburi ya wana wa Kora. Sikieni haya, enyi mataifa yote, sikilizeni, ninyi wote mkaao dunia hii.
“For the leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Hear this, all ye nations; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world;
2 Wakubwa kwa wadogo, matajiri na maskini pamoja:
Both high and low, rich and poor alike!
3 Kinywa changu kitasema maneno ya hekima, usemi wa moyo wangu utatoa ufahamu.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my mind shall be understanding.
4 Nitatega sikio langu nisikilize mithali, nitafafanua kitendawili kwa zeze:
I will incline mine ear to a poem; I will utter my song upon the harp.
5 Kwa nini niogope siku mbaya zinapokuja, wakati wadanganyifu waovu wanaponizunguka,
Why should I fear in the days of adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries encompasseth me;
6 wale wanaotegemea mali zao na kujivunia utajiri wao mwingi?
They who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness of their wealth?
7 Hakuna mwanadamu awaye yote awezaye kuukomboa uhai wa mwingine, au kumpa Mungu fidia kwa ajili yake.
No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,
8 Fidia ya uhai ni gharama kubwa, hakuna malipo yoyote yanayotosha,
That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.
9 ili kwamba aishi milele na asione uharibifu.
Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.
10 Wote wanaona kwamba watu wenye hekima hufa; wajinga na wapumbavu vivyo hivyo huangamia na kuwaachia wengine mali zao.
For he seeth that wise men die, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, And leave their wealth to others.
11 Makaburi yao yatabaki kuwa nyumba zao za milele, makao yao vizazi vyote; ingawa walikuwa na mashamba na kuyaita kwa majina yao.
They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.
12 Lakini mwanadamu, licha ya utajiri wake, hadumu; anafanana na mnyama aangamiaye.
Yet man, who is in honor, abideth not; He is like the beasts that perish.
13 Hii ndiyo hatima ya wale wanaojitumainia wenyewe, pia ya wafuasi wao, waliothibitisha misemo yao.
Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. (Pause)
14 Kama kondoo, wamewekewa kwenda kaburini, nacho kifo kitawala. Wanyofu watawatawala asubuhi, maumbile yao yataozea kaburini, mbali na majumba yao makubwa ya fahari. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they are cast into the underworld; Death shall feed upon them; And the upright shall soon trample upon them. Their form shall be consumed in the underworld, And they shall no more have a dwelling-place. (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my life from the underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)
16 Usitishwe mtu anapotajirika, fahari ya nyumba yake inapoongezeka,
Be not thou afraid, when one becometh rich; When the glory of his house is increased!
17 kwa maana hatachukua chochote atakapokufa, fahari yake haitashuka pamoja naye.
For, when he dieth, he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.
18 Ingawa alipokuwa akiishi alijihesabu kuwa heri, na wanadamu wanakusifu unapofanikiwa,
Though in his life he thought himself happy, —Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity, —
19 atajiunga na kizazi cha baba zake, ambao hawataona kamwe nuru ya uzima.
Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!
20 Mwanadamu mwenye utajiri bila ufahamu ni kama wanyama waangamiao.
The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.
