Psalms 49
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all [ye] people; give ear, all [ye] inhabitants of the world:
For the chief musician. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding.
My mouth will speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart will be of understanding.
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 begin my parable with the harp.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, [when] the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
Why should I fear the days of evil, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels?
6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Why should I fear those who trust in their wealth and boast about the amount of their riches?
7 None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
It is certain that no one can redeem his brother or give God a ransom for him,
8 (For the redemption of their soul [is] precious, and it ceaseth for ever: )
For the redemption of one's life is costly, and no one can pay what we owe.
9 That he should still live for ever, [and] not see corruption.
No one can live forever so that his body should not decay.
10 For he seeth [that] wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
For he will see decay. Wise men die; the fool and the brute alike perish 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.
Their inner thought is that their families will continue forever, and the places where they live, to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 Nevertheless man [being] in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts [that] perish.
But man, having wealth, does not remain alive; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way [is] their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. (Selah)
This, their way, is their folly; yet after them, men approve of their sayings. (Selah)
14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol, and death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their bodies will be consumed in Sheol, with no place for them to live. (Sheol h7585)
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol; he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, and the glory of his house increases.
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
For when he dies he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and [men] will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
He blessed his soul while he lived— and men praise you when you live for yourself—
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
he will go to the generation of his fathers and they will never see the light again.
20 Man [that is] in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts [that] perish.
One who has wealth but no understanding is like the beasts, which perish.
