Psalms 49

1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme committed to the sonnes of Korah. Heare this, all ye people: giue eare, all ye that dwell in the world,

For the Chief Musician; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

2 As well lowe as hie, both rich and poore.

Both low and high, rich and poor together.

3 My mouth shall speake of wisdome, and the meditation of mine heart is of knowledge.

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

4 I will incline mine eare to a parable, and vtter my graue matter vpon the harpe.

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

5 Wherefore should I feare in the euil dayes, when iniquitie shall compasse me about, as at mine heeles?

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

6 They trust in their goods, and boast them selues in the multitude of their riches.

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

7 Yet a man can by no meanes redeeme his brother: he can not giue his raunsome to God,

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

8 (So precious is the redemption of their soules, and the continuance for euer)

(For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be let alone for ever: )

9 That he may liue still for euer, and not see the graue.

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

10 For he seeth that wise men die, and also that the ignorant and foolish perish, and leaue their riches for others.

For he seeth that wise men die, the fool and the brutish together perish, and leave their wealth to others.

11 Yet they thinke, their houses, and their habitations shall continue for euer, euen from generation to generation, and call their lands by their names.

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.

12 But man shall not continue in honour: he is like the beastes that die.

But man abideth not in honour: he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This their way vttereth their foolishnes: yet their posteritie delite in their talke. (Selah)

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

14 Like sheepe they lie in graue: death deuoureth them, and the righteous shall haue domination ouer them in the morning: for their beautie shall consume, when they shall goe from their house to graue. (Sheol h7585)

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)

15 But God shall deliuer my soule from the power of the graue: for he will receiue me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol: for he shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

16 Be not thou afrayd when one is made rich, and when the glory of his house is increased.

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

17 For he shall take nothing away when he dieth, neither shall his pompe descende after him.

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

18 For while he liued, he reioyced himselfe: and men will prayse thee, when thou makest much of thy selfe.

Though while he lived he blessed his soul, and men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself,

19 He shall enter into the generation of his fathers, and they shall not liue for euer.

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

20 Man is in honour, and vnderstandeth not: he is like to beasts that perish.

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