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:

Hear this, all you people; 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 wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall 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 open my dark saying on 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 evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

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

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

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

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

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

(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceases for ever: )

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

That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

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

For he sees that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person 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 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 abideth not in honour: he is like the beasts that perish.

Nevertheless man being in honor stays not: he is like the beasts that perish.

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

This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. (Selah)

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 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)

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

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

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

Be not you afraid when one is made 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 dies he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

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

Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise you, when you do well to yourself.

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

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

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

Man that is in honor, and understands not, is like the beasts that perish.