1 Psalm 49 Why Should I Fear in Days of Evil? For the choir director. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.Hear this, all peoples;Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 Both 49:2Lit sons of men low and 49:2Lit sons of men of rank high,Rich and poor together.
3 My mouth will speak wisdom,And the meditation of my heartwill bediscernment.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;I will 49:4Lit open up express my riddle on the harp.
5 ¶Why should I fear in days of evil,When the iniquity of my 49:5One who grabs the heel; one who cheats supplanters surrounds me,
6 Even those who trust in their wealthAnd boast in the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly, no man can redeemhisbrother;He cannot give to God a ransom for him—
8 For the redemption price for their soul is costly,Anditceases forever—
9 That he should live on eternally,That he should not see 49:9Or the pit corruption.
10 ¶For he seesthat evenwise men die;The 49:10One who fails in wisdom due to willful sin fool and the senseless alike perishAnd leave their wealth to others.
11 Their 49:11Some versions graves are their houses inner thought isthattheir houses are foreverAndtheir dwelling places 49:11Lit to from generation to generation;They have calledtheirlands after their own names.
12 But man inhishonor will not endure;He is like the animals that 49:12Lit are destroyed perish.
13 ¶This is the way of those who are foolish,And of those after them who are pleased 49:13Lit in their mouths with their words. 49:13Selah may mean Pause, Crescendo, Musical Interlude Selah.
14 As sheep they are appointed for Sheol;Death will shepherd them;And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning,And their form shall be for Sheol to consume,Faraway from his habitation.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the 49:15Lit hand power of Sheol,For He will receive me.Selah.
16 ¶Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich,When the 49:16Or wealth glory of his house increases;
17 For when he dies he will not take any of it;His 49:17Or wealth glory will not descend after him.
18 For while he lives he blesses his soul—Andmenwill praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 But his soulshall go to the generation of his fathers;They will eternally not see light.
20 Man inhishonor, butwhodoes not understand,Is like the animals that 49:20Lit are destroyed perish.