1To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, (Ps 42:1; Ps 78:1; Isa 1:2; Mic 1:2)2both low and high, rich and poor together! (Ps 62:9)3My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. (Pr 1:20; Pr 9:1)4I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. (Nu 12:8; Ps 78:2; Pr 1:6; Mt 13:35)5Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, (Ps 37:1; Ps 94:13)6those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? (Job 31:24; Ps 52:7; Pr 11:28; Mr 10:24)7Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, (Job 33:24; Mt 16:26; Mt 25:9)8for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, (Job 36:18)9that he should live on forever and never see the pit. (Ps 16:10; Ps 89:48)10For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. (Ps 39:6; Ps 73:22; Ps 92:6; Ps 94:8; Pr 30:2; Ec 2:16)11Their graves are their homes forever,[1] their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. (Ge 4:17; Ps 5:9; Ps 10:6; Ps 64:6)12Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. (Ps 39:5; Ps 49:20; Ps 82:7; Ec 3:19)13This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts.[2] (Lu 12:20)14Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell. (Job 24:19; Ps 39:11; Da 7:22; Mal 4:3; Lu 22:30; 1Co 6:2; Re 2:26; Re 20:4)15But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Ge 5:24; Ps 16:11; Ps 17:15; Ps 73:24; Da 12:2; Ho 13:14)16Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases.17For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. (Job 27:19; 1Ti 6:7)18For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself— (De 29:19; Ps 10:3; Ps 36:2; Lu 12:19)19his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light. (Ge 15:15; Job 33:30; Ps 56:13)20Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish. (Ps 49:12)
Psalm 49
New International Version
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,2both low and high, rich and poor alike:3My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.4I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:5Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me –6those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?7No-one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them –8the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough –9so that they should live on for ever and not see decay.10For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.11Their tombs will remain their houses[1] for ever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had[2] named lands after themselves.12People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.13This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[3]14They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.15But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.16Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendour of their houses increases;17for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendour will not descend with them.18Though while they live they count themselves blessed – and people praise you when you prosper –19they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.20People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 49
King James Version
1To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:2Both low and high, rich and poor, together.3My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.4I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.5Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?6They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;7None 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:)9That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.10For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.11Their 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.12Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.13This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.14Like 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.15But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.16Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;17For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.18Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.19He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.20Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 49
New International Reader’s Version
For the director of music. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1Hear this, all you nations. Listen, all you who live in this world.2Listen, people, whether you are ordinary or important. Listen, people, whether you are rich or poor.3My mouth will speak wise words. What I think about in my heart will give you understanding.4I will pay attention to a proverb. I will explain my riddle as I play the harp.5Why should I be afraid when trouble comes? Why should I fear when sinners are all around me? They are the kind of people who want to take advantage of me.6They trust in their wealth. They boast about how rich they are.7No one can pay for the life of anyone else. No one can give God what that would cost.8The price for a life is very high. No payment is ever enough.9No one can pay enough to live for ever and not rot in the grave.10Everyone can see that even wise people die. People who are foolish and who have no sense also pass away. All of them leave their wealth to others.11Their tombs will remain their houses for ever. Their graves will be their homes for all time to come. Naming lands after themselves won’t help either.12Even though people may be very rich, they don’t live on and on. They are like the animals. They die.13That’s what happens to those who trust in themselves. It also happens to their followers, who agree with what they say.14They are like sheep and will end up in the grave. Death will be their shepherd. But when honest people come to power, a new day will dawn. The bodies of sinners will waste away in the grave. They will end up far away from their princely houses.15But God will save me from the place of the dead. He will certainly take me to himself.16Don’t get too upset when other people become rich. Don’t be troubled when they become more and more wealthy.17They won’t take anything with them when they die. Their riches won’t go down to the grave with them.18While they lived, they believed they were blessed. People praised them when things were going well for them.19But they will die, like their people of long ago. They will never again see the light of life.20People who have riches but don’t understand are like the animals. They die.