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,

“For the leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Hear this, all ye nations; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world;

2 Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

Both high and low, rich and poor alike!

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

My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my mind shall be understanding.

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

I will incline mine ear to a poem; I will utter my song upon the harp.

5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, When iniquity at my heels compasseth me about?

Why should I fear in the days of adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries encompasseth me;

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

They who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness of their wealth?

7 None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him

No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,

8 (For the redemption of their life is costly, And it faileth for ever),

That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.

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

Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.

10 For he shall see it. Wise men die; The fool and the brutish alike perish, And leave their wealth to others.

For he seeth that wise men die, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, And leave their wealth to others.

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.

They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.

12 But man [being] in honor abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish.

Yet man, who is in honor, abideth not; He is like the beasts that perish.

13 This their way is their folly: Yet after them men approve their sayings. (Selah)

Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. (Pause)

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)

Like sheep they are cast into the underworld; Death shall feed upon them; And the upright shall soon trample upon them. Their form shall be consumed in the underworld, And they shall no more have a dwelling-place. (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 underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)

16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased:

Be not thou afraid, when one becometh rich; When the glory of his house is increased!

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

For, when he dieth, he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.

18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul (And men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself),

Though in his life he thought himself happy, —Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity, —

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

Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!

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

The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.