Psalms 49

1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,

1 萬民哪，你們都當聽這話！ 世上一切的居民，

2 both low and high, rich and poor alike.

2 無論上流下流，富足貧窮， 都當留心聽！

3 My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.

3 我口要說智慧的言語； 我心要想通達的道理。

4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:

4 我要側耳聽比喻， 用琴解謎語。

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when wicked usurpers surround me?

5 在患難的日子，奸惡隨我腳跟，四面環繞我， 我何必懼怕？

6 They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.

6 那些倚仗財貨自誇錢財多的人，

7 No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.

7 一個也無法贖自己的弟兄， 也不能替他將贖價給上帝，

8 For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice,

8–9 叫他長遠活着，不見朽壞； 因為贖他生命的價值極貴， 只可永遠罷休。

9 that he should live on forever and not see decay.

10 For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.

10 他必見智慧人死， 又見愚頑人和畜類人一同滅亡， 將他們的財貨留給別人。

11 Their graves are their eternal homes—their dwellings for endless generations—even though their lands were their namesakes.

11 他們心裏思想： 他們的家室必永存， 住宅必留到萬代； 他們以自己的名稱自己的地。

12 But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.

12 但人居尊貴中不能長久， 如同死亡的畜類一樣。

13 This is the fate of the foolish and their followers who endorse their sayings. Selah

13 他們行的這道本為自己的愚昧； 但他們以後的人還佩服他們的話語。（細拉）

14 Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.

14 他們如同羊群派定下陰間； 死亡必作他們的牧者。 到了早晨，正直人必管轄他們； 他們的美容必被陰間所滅，以致無處可存。

15 But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah

15 只是上帝必救贖我的靈魂脫離陰間的權柄， 因他必收納我。（細拉）

16 Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.

16 見人發財、家室增榮的時候， 你不要懼怕；

17 For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.

17 因為，他死的時候甚麼也不能帶去； 他的榮耀不能隨他下去。

18 Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper—

18 他活着的時候，雖然自誇為有福 （你若利己，人必誇獎你）；

19 he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.

19 他仍必歸到他歷代的祖宗那裏， 永不見光。

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

20 人在尊貴中而不醒悟， 就如死亡的畜類一樣。