Psalms 49

1 For the Chief Musician; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all ye 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 low and high, rich and poor together.

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 dark saying 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 evil, when iniquity at my heels compasseth me about?

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

6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

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

7 None [of them] 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 let alone for ever: )

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

9 That he should still live alway, that he should not see corruption.

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

10 For he seeth that wise men die, the fool and the brutish together perish, and 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 [shall continue] for ever, [and] their dwelling places to all generations; they call 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 But man abideth not in honour: 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 after them men approve their sayings. (Selah)

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

14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd: and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for it. (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 shall 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 thou afraid when one is made 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 while he lived he blessed his soul, and men 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 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the 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!