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 Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

2 both low and high, rich and poor alike.

2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

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

3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

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

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

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

5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

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

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

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

7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

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

8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

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

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

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

10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

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

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.

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

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

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

13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

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 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.

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

15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

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

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

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

17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

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

18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

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

19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

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

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