Psalm 49

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

²Both low and high, together rich and needy.

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

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

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

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

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

⁸And precious is the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased—to the age.

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

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

¹¹Their heart is: Their houses are to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.

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

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

¹⁴As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form is for consumption. Sheol is a dwelling for him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Psalm 50