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To the Overcomer: A Psalm for the sons of Korah.

¶ Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart intelligence.

I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will declare my enigma upon the harp.

Why should I fear in the days of adversity when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

¶ Those that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

none of them can by any means ransom his brother, nor give God an atonement for him;

(for the redemption of their soul is of great price, and they shall never pay it)

that he should still live for ever and not see corruption.

10 For he sees that all the wise men die, likewise the fool and the ignorant perish and leave their wealth to others.

11 Their inward thought is that their houses are eternal and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

12 Nevertheless man will not abide forever in honour; he is like the beasts that are cut off.

13 This their way is their folly; yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

14 Like sheep they are laid in Sheol; death shall feed on them, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their beauty shall be consumed in the grave from their dwelling.

15 ¶ Surely God will ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol when he shall take me. Selah.

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

17 for in his death he shall carry nothing away; nor shall his glory descend after him.

18 Though while he lives, his life shall be blessed: and men will praise thee when thou art prosperous.

19 He shall enter into the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light forever.

20 Man that is in honour that does not understand is like the beasts that are cut off.

Psalm 49[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Hear(A) this, all you peoples;(B)
    listen, all who live in this world,(C)
both low and high,(D)
    rich and poor alike:
My mouth will speak words of wisdom;(E)
    the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.(F)
I will turn my ear to a proverb;(G)
    with the harp(H) I will expound my riddle:(I)

Why should I fear(J) when evil days come,
    when wicked deceivers surround me—
those who trust in their wealth(K)
    and boast(L) of their great riches?(M)
No one can redeem the life of another
    or give to God a ransom for them—
the ransom(N) for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough—(O)
so that they should live on(P) forever
    and not see decay.(Q)
10 For all can see that the wise die,(R)
    that the foolish and the senseless(S) also perish,
    leaving their wealth(T) to others.(U)
11 Their tombs(V) will remain their houses[b] forever,
    their dwellings for endless generations,(W)
    though they had[c] named(X) lands after themselves.

12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;(Y)
    they are like the beasts that perish.(Z)

13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,(AA)
    and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[d]
14 They are like sheep and are destined(AB) to die;(AC)
    death will be their shepherd
    (but the upright will prevail(AD) over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
    far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;(AE)
    he will surely take me to himself.(AF)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing(AG) with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.(AH)
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—(AI)
    and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,(AJ)
    who will never again see the light(AK) of life.

20 People who have wealth but lack understanding(AL)
    are like the beasts that perish.(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 49:1 In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.
  2. Psalm 49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain
  3. Psalm 49:11 Or generations, / for they have
  4. Psalm 49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.