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 you peoples. Listen, all you 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 will speak words of wisdom. My heart will utter understanding.

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

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

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

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

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

6 Those who trust in their wealth, and boast 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 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 life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

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

9 that he should live on forever, that he should 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 sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless 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 will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

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

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

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

13 This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who 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 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.

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 Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah.

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

16 Don’t be afraid when a man 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 dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t 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 praise you when you do well for yourself—

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 the light.

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

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