Psalms 49

1 To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all 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 men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.

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 riddle 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 adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? —

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

6 They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ...

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

7 None 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 soul is costly, and must be given up for ever, )

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

9 That he should still live perpetually, [and] not see corruption.

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

10 For he seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they 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 are for ever, their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the 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 Nevertheless, man being in honour 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 they that come after them delight in their sayings. (Selah)

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

14 Like sheep are they laid in Sheol: Death feedeth on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their comeliness shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for them. (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 afraid when a man becometh 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 he blessed his soul in his lifetime, — and men will 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 It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.

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

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

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