Psalms, 49

1. For the leader. A psalm of the Korahites.

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

2. Hear this, all you peoples! Give ear, all who inhabit the world,

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

3. You of lowly birth or high estate, rich and poor alike.

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

4. My mouth shall speak wisdom, my heart shall offer insight.

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

5. I will turn my attention to a problem, expound my question to the music of a lyre.

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

6. Why should I fear in evil days, when my wicked pursuers ring me round,

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

7. Those who trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches?

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

8. One cannot redeem oneself, pay to God a ransom.

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

9. Too high the price to redeem a life; one would never have enough

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

10. To stay alive forever 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.

11. Anyone can see that the wisest die, the fool and the senseless pass away too, and must 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.

12. Tombs are their homes forever, their dwellings through all generations, though they gave their names to their lands.

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

13. For all their riches mortals do not abide; they perish like the beasts.

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

14. This is the destiny of those who trust in folly, the end of those so pleased with their wealth. 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.

15. Like sheep they are herded into Sheol, where death will be their shepherd. Straight to the grave they descend, where their form will waste away, Sheol will be their palace.

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

16. But God will redeem my life, will take me from the power of Sheol. Selah

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

17. Do not fear when others become rich, when the wealth of their houses grows great.

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

18. When they die they will take nothing with them, their wealth will not follow them down.

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

19. When living, they congratulate themselves and say: "All praise you, you do so well."

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

20. But they will join the company of their forebears, never again to see the light.

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

21. For all their riches, if mortals do not have wisdom, they perish like the beasts.

21.