Psalms 49

1 [For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.] Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the 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 low and high, rich and poor together.

both low and high, rich and poor together.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For he will see decay. Wise men die; the fool and the brute alike perish and leave their wealth to others.

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

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

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

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

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

14 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)

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 Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

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

16 Do not be afraid when a man is made 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 dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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