Psalms 49

1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,

For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world

2 both low and high, rich and poor together.

people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.

3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart will utter understanding.

My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.

4 I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle on the harp.

I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.

5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,

6 Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—

who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?

7 none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.

For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,

8 For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

9 that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.

to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.

10 For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.

But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon their wealth to others.

11 Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

The grave is their everlasting home, the place they shall live in for ever and ever, though after their own names they called whole lands.

12 But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish.

Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.

13 This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. (Selah)

This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (Selah)

14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. (Sheol h7585)

Like sheep they descend to Sheol with Death for their shepherd; down they go straight to the grave, and their form wastes away in their home below. (Sheol h7585)

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

But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

16 Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.

17 for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.

Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.

18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—

Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,

19 he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.

they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.

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

The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.