Psalms 49

1 For the end, a Psalm for the sons of Core. Hear these words, all you nations, listen, all you that dwell upon the earth:

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

2 both the sons of mean men, and sons of [great] men; the rich and poor [man] together.

Both low and high, together rich and needy.

3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring [forth] 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 on the harp.

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

5 Therefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.

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

6 They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—

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

7 A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,

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

8 or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labor for ever,

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

9 and live to the end, [so] that he should not see corruption.

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

10 When he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.

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

11 And their sepulchres are their houses for ever, [even] their tabernacles to all generations: they have called their 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 And man being in honor, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.

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

13 This their way is an offense to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. (Pause)

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

14 They have laid [them] as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory. (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 shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)

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

16 Fear not when a man is enriched, and when the glory of his house is increased.

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

17 For he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.

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

18 For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to you when you do well to him.

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

19 [Yet] he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.

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

20 Man that is in honor, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.

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