Psalms 49

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

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

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

2 Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.

2Both low and high, together rich and needy.

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

3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding:

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

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

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.

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

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

5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? —

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

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?

6 They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ...

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

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

7 None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give toGod a ransom for him,

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

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

8 (For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever,)

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

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

9 That he should still live perpetually, [and] not see corruption.

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

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

10 For he seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they leave their wealth to others.

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

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.

11 Their inward thought is, that their houses are for ever, their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the lands after their own names.

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.

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.

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

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

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

13 This their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings. Selah.

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

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.)

14 Like sheep are they laid in Sheol: Death feedeth on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their comeliness shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for them.

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.

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.

15 ButGod will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol: for he will receive me. Selah.

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

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

16 Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased:

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

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

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

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

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

18 Though he blessed his soul in his lifetime, — and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself, —

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

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

19 It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.

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

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

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

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

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