Psalms 49

1 To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:

To the Overseer. — By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.

2 Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.

Both low and high, together rich and needy.

3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding:

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

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.

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

5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? —

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

6 They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ...

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

7 None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,

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

8 (For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever, )

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

9 That he should still live perpetually, [and] not see corruption.

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

10 For he seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they leave their wealth to others.

For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.

11 Their inward thought is, that their houses are for ever, their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the lands after their own names.

Their heart [is]: Their houses [are] to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.

12 Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

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

13 This their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings. (Selah)

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

14 Like sheep are they laid in Sheol: Death feedeth on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their comeliness shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for them. (Sheol h7585)

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)

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

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

16 Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased:

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

17 For when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.

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

18 Though he blessed his soul in his lifetime, — and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself, —

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

19 It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.

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

20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

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