Psalms 49

1 Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.

[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.] Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,

2 High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.

both low and high, rich and poor together.

3 From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.

My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.

4 I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.

I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.

5 What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?

Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who deceive me surrounds me?

6 Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.

They trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches.

7 Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;

Truly these cannot redeem a person, nor give to God a ransom for him.

8 (Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)

For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

9 So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.

that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.

10 For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.

For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.

11 The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.

Their tombs are their homes forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

12 But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.

But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish.

13 This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah)

This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. (Selah)

14 Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever. (Sheol h7585)

They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. (Sheol h7585)

15 But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

16 Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;

Do not be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.

17 For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.

For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.

18 Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,

Though while he lived he blessed his soul—and men praise you when you do well for yourself—

19 He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.

he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.

20 Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.

A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.