Psalms 49

1 “To the chief musician, by the sons of Korach, a psalm.” Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the perishable 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 the sons of the low and the sons of the high, rich and needy, altogether.

both low and high, rich and poor together.

3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

My mouth will speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart will be of understanding.

4 I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open with the harp my riddle.

I will incline my ear to a parable; I will begin my parable with the harp.

5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my oppressors encompasseth me?—

Why should I fear the days of evil, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels?

6 Of those that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves of the multitude of their riches?

Why should I fear those who trust in their wealth and boast about the amount of their riches?

7 No one can in any wise redeem his brother, nor can he give to God redemption money for himself;

It is certain that no one can redeem his brother or give God a ransom for him,

8 For the ransom of their soul is too costly, and it is omitted for ever.

For the redemption of one's life is costly, and no one can pay what we owe.

9 And should he still live for ever? not see the pit?

No one can live forever so that his body should not decay.

10 For he must see that wise men die, that together the fool and the brutish person perish and leave 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 inward thought is, that their houses are to be for ever, their dwelling-places, from generation to generation; they call them by their own names in [various] countries.

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 Nevertheless man in [his] splendor endureth not: he is like the beasts [that] perish.

But man, having wealth, does not remain alive; he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is their way, their folly: yet their posterity will take pleasure in their sayings. (Selah)

This, their way, is their folly; yet after them, men approve of their sayings. (Selah)

14 Like flocks are they thrust into the nether world; death will feed them; but the upright shall have dominion over them in that morning, and their form wasteth away in the nether world, [taken away] from their own dwelling. (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 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the nether world; for he will take me away. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol; he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

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

Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, and the glory of his house increases.

17 For when he dieth he can take nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.

For when he dies he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.

18 For though he bless his soul during his life, and men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself:

He blessed his soul while he lived— and men praise you when you live for yourself—

19 She shall go to the generation of his fathers, unto eternity will these never see light.

he will go to the generation of his fathers and they will never see the light again.

20 Man, though in splendor, who understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. °

One who has wealth but no understanding is like the beasts, which perish.