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
Schlachter 2000
from Genfer Bibelgesellschaft1Dem Vorsänger. Von den Söhnen Korahs. Ein Psalm. (Ps 42:1)2Hört dies, ihr Völker alle, horcht doch auf, alle Bewohner der Welt, (Pr 8:4; Jer 22:29)3ihr Menschenkinder und Herrensöhne, alle miteinander, reich und arm! (Job 34:19; Pr 22:2)4Mein Mund soll Weisheit reden und das Denken meines Herzens verständig sein. (Job 33:3; Ps 19:8; Pr 8:6)5Ich will mein Ohr zu einer Gleichnisrede neigen und beim Lautenspiel mein Rätsel eröffnen. (Ps 78:2; Isa 50:4)6Warum sollte ich mich fürchten zur bösen Zeit, wenn mich die Missetat meiner Verfolger umringt? (Ps 56:5; Ps 112:7)7Sie verlassen sich auf ihr Vermögen und prahlen mit ihrem großen Reichtum. (Ps 52:9; Jer 9:23; 1Ti 6:17)8Und doch vermag kein Bruder den anderen zu erlösen;[1] er kann Gott das Lösegeld nicht geben (Ex 21:30; Job 33:24; Isa 59:20; Mic 6:7; 1Pe 1:18)9— zu teuer ist die Erlösung ihrer Seelen, er muss davon abstehen auf ewig! —, (Eze 7:19; Mt 16:26)10damit er für immer leben könnte, die Grube nicht sähe. (Ps 89:49; Ec 8:8)11Denn er sieht ja, dass die Weisen sterben; der Tor und der Narr kommen miteinander um und müssen ihr Vermögen andern überlassen. (Ps 39:7; Ec 2:21; Lu 12:20)12Ihr Trachten ist, dass ihre Häuser ewig bestehen sollen, ihre Wohnungen auf alle Geschlechter hin; sie nennen Ländereien nach ihrem Namen. (Ge 4:17; 2Sa 18:18)13Aber der Mensch in seiner Pracht bleibt nicht; er gleicht dem Vieh, das umgebracht wird. (Ps 49:21; Ec 3:18; 1Co 15:39)14Dieser ihr Weg ist ihre Torheit, und doch haben ihre Nachkommen Wohlgefallen an ihren Worten. (Sela.) (Pr 10:21; Pr 15:21; Lu 12:20; 1Co 1:18)15Herdenweise sinken sie ins Totenreich hinab; der Tod weidet sie, und die Redlichen werden am Morgen über sie herrschen. Das Totenreich verzehrt ihre Gestalt fern von ihrer Wohnung. (Job 24:19; Ps 103:15; Isa 14:11; Hab 2:5; Heb 10:27)16Aber Gott wird meine Seele aus der Gewalt des Totenreichs erlösen; denn er wird mich aufnehmen! (Sela.) (Ge 5:24; Job 33:28; Isa 38:20; Ho 13:14)17Fürchte dich nicht, wenn einer reich wird, wenn die Herrlichkeit seines Hauses groß wird; (Pr 15:16)18denn bei seinem Tod nimmt er das alles nicht mit, seine Herrlichkeit fährt ihm nicht nach! (Lu 12:20; 1Ti 6:7)19Denn er preist sich glücklich, solange er lebt — und man lobt dich, wenn es dir gut geht! —, (Lu 12:19; Lu 16:19)20bis auch er eingehen wird zum Geschlecht seiner Väter, die in Ewigkeit das Licht nicht sehen. (Job 7:9; Job 10:21)21Der Mensch, der in [seiner] Pracht lebt und doch ohne Einsicht ist, er gleicht dem Vieh, das umgebracht wird! (Ps 49:13)
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.