< 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:
To the Overseer. — By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.
2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
Both low and high, together rich and needy.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:
5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall surround me?
Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.
6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.
8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever: )
And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased — to the age.
9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the stupid person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.
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 heart [is]: Their houses [are] to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.
12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.
13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. (Selah)
This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. (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 )
As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form [is] for consumption. Sheol [is] a dwelling for him. (Sheol )
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol )
Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. (Selah) (Sheol )
16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.
20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!