Psalms 49:1-15

¹“To the chief musician, by the sons of Korach, a psalm.” (49:2) Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the perishable world:

²(49:3) Both the sons of the low and the sons of the high, rich and needy, altogether.

³(49:4) My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

⁴(49:5) I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open with the harp my riddle.

⁵(49:6) Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my oppressors encompasseth me?—

⁶(49:7) Of those that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves of the multitude of their riches?

⁷(49:8) No one can in any wise redeem his brother, nor can he give to God redemption money for himself;

⁸(49:9) For the ransom of their soul is too costly, and it is omitted for ever.

⁹(49:10) And should he still live for ever? not see the pit?

¹⁰(49:11) For he must see that wise men die, that together the fool and the brutish person perish and leave to others their wealth.

¹¹(49:12) Their inward thought is, that their houses are to be for ever, their dwelling-places, from generation to generation; they call them by their own names in various countries.

¹²(49:13) Nevertheless man in his splendor endureth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

¹³(49:14) This is their way, their folly: yet their posterity will take pleasure in their sayings. Selah.

¹⁴(49:15) Like flocks are they thrust into the nether world; death will feed them; but the upright shall have dominion over them in that morning, and their form wasteth away in the nether world, taken away from their own dwelling.

¹⁵(49:16) But God will redeem my soul from the power of the nether world; for he will take me away. Selah.