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:

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

My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will speak prudence.

4 I will incline my 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 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall surround me?

Why should I fear in the evil day? The iniquity at my heel will surround me.

6 They 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 None of them 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 the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever: )

nor the price for the redemption of his soul. And he will labor continuously,

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

and he will still live, until the end.

10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the stupid person 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 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: 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 their way is their folly: yet their posterity 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 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)

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 grave: 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 is made rich, when the glory 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 glory 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: and men will praise thee, when thou doest 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 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see 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, and understandeth not, 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.