Psalms 49
World English BibleTranslation
World English Bible
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
1Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
1(49-1) For the Leader; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. (49-2) Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,
2both low and high, rich and poor together.
2(49-3) Both low and high, rich and poor together.
3My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart will utter understanding.
3(49-4) My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle on the harp.
4(49-5) I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
5(49-6) Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters compasseth me about,
6Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—
6(49-7) Of them 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 God a ransom for him.
7(49-8) No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him —
8For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
8(49-9) For too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever —
9that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.
9(49-10) That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit.
10For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.
10(49-11) For he seeth that wise men die, the fool and the brutish together perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
11(49-12) 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.
12But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish.
12(49-13) But man abideth not in honour; he is like the beasts that perish.
13This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. Selah.
13(49-14) This is the way of them that are foolish, and of those who after them approve their sayings. Selah
14They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion.
14(49-15) Like sheep they are appointed for the nether-world; death shall be their shepherd; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their form shall be for the nether-world to wear away, that there be no habitation for it.
15But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah.
15(49-16) But God will redeem my soul from the power of the nether-world; for He shall receive me. Selah
16Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
16(49-17) Be not thou afraid when one waxeth rich, when the wealth of his house is increased;
17for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.
17(49-18) For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; his wealth shall not descend after him.
18Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
18(49-19) Though while he lived he blessed his soul: 'Men will praise thee, when thou shalt do well to thyself';
19he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
19(49-20) It shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light.
20A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.
20(49-21) Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.
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