Psalms, 49

0.

0. To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

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

1. Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all 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 wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

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

4. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.

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

5. Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,

6. They trust in their wealth, and boast of the profusion of their riches.

6. men who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?

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

7. Truly no man can ransom himself, or give to God the price of his life,

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

8. for the ransom of his life is costly, and can never suffice,

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

9. that he should continue to live on for ever, and never see the Pit.

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. Yea, he shall see that even the wise die, the fool and the stupid alike must 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 graves are their homes for ever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own.

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

12. Man cannot abide in his pomp, 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 is the fate of those who have foolish confidence, the end of those who are pleased with their portion. [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 appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away; Sheol shall be their home.

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

15. But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. [Selah]

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

16. Be not afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases.

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

17. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.

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

18. Though, while he lives, he counts himself happy, and though a man gets praise when he does well for himself,

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

19. he will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never more see the light.

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

20. Man cannot abide in his pomp, he is like the beasts that perish.