Psalms 49

1 Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.

1To the Overseer. --By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.

2High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.

2Both low and high, together rich and needy.

3From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.

3My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart <FI>are<Fi> things of understanding.

4I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.

4I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:

5What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?

5Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.

6Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.

6Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.

7Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;

7A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.

8(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)

8And precious <FI>is<Fi> the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased--to the age.

9So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.

9And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.

10For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.

10For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.

11The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.

11Their heart <FI>is<Fi> : Their houses <FI>are<Fi> to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.

12But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.

12And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.

13This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah.)

13This their way <FI>is<Fi> folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. Selah.

14Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever.

14As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form <FI>is<Fi> for consumption. Sheol <FI>is<Fi> a dwelling for him.

15But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.)

15Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. Selah.

16Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;

16Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,

17For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.

17For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.

18Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,

18For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)

19He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.

19It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.

20Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.

20Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!