Psalms, 49

1. [For the choirmaster Of the sons of Korah Psalm] Hear this, all nations, listen, all who dwell on earth,

1. <To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.> Hear this, all [ye] people; give ear, all [ye] inhabitants of the world:

2. people high and low, rich and poor alike!

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

3. My lips have wisdom to utter, my heart good sense to whisper.

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

4. I listen carefully to a proverb, I set my riddle to the music of the harp.

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

5. Why should I be afraid in times of trouble? Malice dogs me and hems me in.

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 of the profusion of their riches.

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

7. But no one can ever redeem himself or pay his own ransom to God,

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

8. the price for himself is too high; it can never be

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

9. that he will live on for ever and avoid the sight of the abyss.

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

10. For he will see the wise also die no less than the fool and the brute, and leave their wealth behind for others.

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

11. For ever no home but their tombs, their dwelling-place age after age, though they gave their name to whole territories.

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. In prosperity people lose their good sense, they become no better than dumb animals.

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

13. So they go on in their self-assurance, right up to the end they are content with their lot.Pause

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

14. They are penned in Sheol like sheep, Death will lead them to pasture, and those who are honest will rule over them. In the morning all trace of them will be gone, Sheol will be their home.

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 my soul God will ransom from the clutches of Sheol, and will snatch me up.Pause

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

16. Do not be overawed when someone gets rich, and lives in ever greater splendour;

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

17. when he dies he will take nothing with him, his wealth will not go down with him.

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

18. Though he pampered himself while he lived -- and people praise you for looking after yourself-

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

19. he will go to join the ranks of his ancestors, who will never again see the light.

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

20. In prosperity people lose their good sense, they become no better than dumb animals.

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