Psalms 49

1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,

2 both low and high, rich and poor alike.

3 My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.

4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when wicked usurpers surround me?

6 They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.

7 No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.

8 For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice,

9 that he should live on forever and not see decay.

10 For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.

11 Their graves are their eternal homes—their dwellings for endless generations—even though their lands were their namesakes.

12 But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the fate of the foolish and their followers who endorse their sayings. Selah

14 Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.

15 But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah

16 Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.

17 For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.

18 Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper—

19 he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.

20 A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

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 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

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

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

5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, [when] the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 a psalm of the children of Korah, to be sung.

2 Hearken, all ye nations; take heed, all ye that dwell in this time,

3 Both common man and lords, both rich and poor together.

4 My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and my heart shall speak of understanding.

5 let us hear a good saying and play a fine poem on the harp.

6 Why should I fear in evil days, when the iniquity of my transgressors compasseth me about?

7 Who trust in their goods, and brave in their great riches.

8 For a brother cannot redeem anyone, nor can God reconcile anyone;

9 For it cost too much to redeem her soul, that he should suffer it to stand for ever,

10 Though he live as long as he liveth, and see not the pit.

11 For it shall be seen that such wise men die, as well as fools and fools perish, and leave their goods to others.

12 This is their heart, that their houses may endure for ever, and their dwellings be established for ever, and have great honour upon the earth.

13 Nevertheless they cannot abide in such dignity, but must go away like cattle.

14 This their doings are foolishness: neither do their seed praise it with their mouth.

15 They are in hell as sheep, death gnaweth them: but the righteous shall soon have dominion over them, and their defiance shall pass away, and they shall abide in hell.

16 But God shall deliver my soul out of the power of hell: for he hath accepted me. Sela.

17 Let it not deceive thee, whether a man be rich, whether the glory of his house be great.

18 For he shall take nothing with him in his death, and his glory shall not follow him.

19 But he comforteth himself of this good life, and glorifieth it, when any man seeketh good days.

20 So they go after their fathers, and never see the light.

21 In short, if a man be in dignity, and have not understanding, he fleeth away as cattle.