Chapter 49

To the chief Musician,¹⁸ A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
Hear³ this, all [ye] people; give ear,⁵⁴ all [ye] inhabitants⁶ of the world:

Both low ¹²⁰ and high, ³⁷⁶ rich and poor, together.

My mouth shall speak¹⁷ of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding.

I will incline⁵⁵ mine ear to a parable: I will open⁴ my dark saying upon the harp.

Wherefore should I fear⁴ in the days of evil, [when] the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?⁴

They that trust⁶ in their wealth, and boast¹⁰¹ themselves in the multitude of their riches;

None [of them] can by any means² redeem⁴ his brother, nor give⁴ to God a ransom for him:

(For the redemption of their soul [is] precious,⁴ and it ceaseth¹ for ever:)

That he should still live⁴ for ever, [and] not see⁴ corruption.

For he seeth⁴ [that] wise men die,⁴ likewise the fool and the brutish person perish,⁴ and leave¹ their wealth to others.

Their inward thought [is, that] their houses [shall continue] for ever, [and] their dwelling places to all generations; they call¹ [their] lands after their own names.

Nevertheless man [being] in honour abideth⁴ not: he is like⁸ the beasts [that] perish.⁸

This their way [is] their folly: yet their posterity approve⁴ their sayings. Selah.

Like sheep they are laid¹ in the grave; death shall feed⁴ on them; and the upright shall have dominion⁴ over them in the morning; and their beauty ⁶⁷³⁶ shall consume¹⁵ in the grave from their dwelling.

But God will redeem⁴ my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive⁴ me. Selah.

Be not thou afraid⁴ when one is made rich,⁵⁵ when the glory of his house is increased;⁴

For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away:⁴ his glory shall not descend⁴ after him.

Though while he lived he blessed¹⁷ his soul: and [men] will praise⁵⁵ thee, when thou doest well⁵⁵ to thyself.

He shall go⁴ to the generation of his fathers; they shall never ⁵³³¹ see⁴ light.

Man [that is] in honour, and understandeth⁴ not, is like⁸ the beasts [that] perish.⁸