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:

Sh'ma ·Hear obey·, all you peoples. Listen, 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 will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter 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 proverb. I will open my riddle 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 iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

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

Those who trust in their wealth, and boast 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 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 life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

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

That he should live on forever, that he should 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 senseless 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 will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

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

But man, despite his riches, does not endure. He is like the animals that perish.

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

This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.

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)

They are appointed as a flock for Sheol ·Place of the dead·. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol ·Place of the dead·, far from their mansion. (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 Sheol ·Place of the dead·, for he will receive me. (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·. (Sheol h7585)

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

Don’t be afraid when a man 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 yadah ·extend hands in thankful praise· to you when you do well for 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 the light.

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

A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.