Psalms 49
1 For the Leader; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,
Unto the end. A Psalm to the sons of Korah. Hear these things, all nations. Pay attention, all inhabitants of the world:
2 Both low and high, rich and poor together.
whoever is earth-born, you sons of men, together as one, the rich and the poor.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will speak prudence.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
I will incline my ear to a parable. I will open my case with the psaltery.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters compasseth me about,
Why should I fear in the evil day? The iniquity at my heel will surround me.
6 Of them that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches?
Those who trust in their own strength and who glory in the multitude of their riches,
7 No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him —
no brother redeems, nor will man buy back. He will not give to God his appeasement,
8 For too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever —
nor the price for the redemption of his soul. And he will labor continuously,
9 That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit.
and he will still live, until the end.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, the fool and the brutish together perish, and leave their wealth to others.
He will not see death, when he sees the wise dying: the foolish and the senseless will perish together. And they will leave their riches to strangers.
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.
And their sepulchers will be their houses forever, their tabernacles from generation to generation. They have called their names in their own lands.
12 But man abideth not in honour; he is like the beasts that perish.
And man, when he was held in honor, did not understand. He has been compared to the senseless beasts, and he has become like them.
13 This is the way of them that are foolish, and of those who after them approve their sayings. (Selah)
This way of theirs is a scandal to them. And afterwards, they will delight in their mouth.
14 Like sheep they are appointed for the nether-world; death shall be their shepherd; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their form shall be for the nether-world to wear away, that there be no habitation for it. (Sheol h7585)
They have been placed in Hell like sheep. Death will feed on them. And the just will have dominion over them in the morning. And their help will grow old in Hell for their glory. (Sheol h7585)
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the nether-world; for He shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
Even so, truly God will redeem my soul from the hand of Hell, when he will receive me. (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not thou afraid when one waxeth rich, when the wealth of his house is increased;
Do not be afraid, when a man will have been made rich, and when the glory of his house will have been multiplied.
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; his wealth shall not descend after him.
For when he dies, he will take nothing away, and his glory will not descend with him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: 'Men will praise thee, when thou shalt do well to thyself';
For his soul will be blessed in his lifetime, and he will admit to you when you do good to him.
19 It shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light.
He will even enter with the progeny of his fathers, but, even in eternity, he will not see the light.
20 Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.
Man, when he was in honor, did not understand. He has been compared to the senseless beasts, and he has become like them.
