Psalms 49

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: {for: or, of} 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. {all...: Heb. generation and generation} 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. {approve...: Heb. delight in their mouth} 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. {beauty: or, strength} {in the grave from...: or, the grave being an habitation to every one of them} 15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. {power: Heb. hand} {the grave: or, hell} 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. {while...: Heb. in his life} 19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. {He...: Heb. The soul shall} 20 Man {that is} in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts {that} perish.