Psalms 49
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1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye peoples; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,
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2 Both low and high, Rich and poor together.
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3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; And the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
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4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
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5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, When iniquity at my heels compasseth me about?
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6 They that trust in their wealth, And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
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7 None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him
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8 (For the redemption of their life is costly, And it faileth for ever),
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9 That he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption.
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10 For he shall see it. Wise men die; The fool and the brutish alike perish, And leave their wealth to others.
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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.
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12 But man [being] in honor abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish.
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13 This their way is their folly: Yet after them men approve their sayings. [Selah
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14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd: And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, That there be no habitation for it.
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15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; For he will receive me. [Selah
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16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased:
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17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.
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18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul (And men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself),
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19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see the light.
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20 Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, Is like the beasts that perish.