Psalms 49

1Hear this, all ye peoples; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,

1Listen to this, everyone; pay attention, all you people who live in the world,

2Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

2both the important and the ordinary, the rich and the poor alike.

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

3My mouth will speak words of wisdom, and what I think about will bring true understanding.

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

4I will listen closely to a proverb; I will explain my mystery while playing the harp.

5Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, When iniquity at my heels compasseth me about?

5Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when the wickedness of those who trick me surrounds me?

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

6They are people who trust in their money and brag about how very wealthy they are.

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

7But no one can ever buy back the life of another person or pay God a ransom for them.

8(For the redemption of their life is costly, And it faileth for ever),

8The cost of a human life is too high; no payment is ever enough

9That he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption.

9to make someone live forever and never see the grave.

10For he shall see it. Wise men die; The fool and the brutish alike perish, And leave their wealth to others.

10Everyone can see that even wise people die; the foolish and the ignorant die just the same and leave their wealth to others.

11Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, Andtheir dwelling-places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names.

11They think their houses will last forever and their homes will survive for generations; they even name their lands after themselves.

12But man being in honor abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish.

12But people, despite their honor, do not last; they are just like the animals that die.

13This their way is their folly: Yet after them men approve their sayings. [Selah

13This is the fate of those who are foolish, and of those who come after them and agree with what they say.

14They are appointed as a flock for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd: And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, That there be no habitation for it.

14They are like sheep destined for the grave; Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their bodies will rot in the grave, far from their grand homes.

15But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; For he will receive me. [Selah

15But God will rescue my soul from the power of the grave, for he will receive me.

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

16So do not be afraid when someone gets rich or when the wealth and splendor of their house increases.

17For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.

17When they die, they will take nothing with them; their wealth will not follow them down into the grave.

18Though while he lived he blessed his soul (And men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself),

18Even though they considered themselves happy while they lived—and people praise you when you are successful—

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

19they will join their ancestors who have died and will never see the light again.

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

20A person who has great honor but lacks understanding is just like the animals that die.