Psalms 49

¹To him that excelleth. A Psalme committed to the sonnes of Korah. Heare this, all ye people: giue eare, all ye that dwell in the world,

²As well lowe as hie, both rich and poore.

³My mouth shall speake of wisdome, and the meditation of mine heart is of knowledge.

⁴I will incline mine eare to a parable, and vtter my graue matter vpon the harpe.

⁵Wherefore should I feare in the euil dayes, when iniquitie shall compasse me about, as at mine heeles?

⁶They trust in their goods, and boast them selues in the multitude of their riches.

⁷Yet a man can by no meanes redeeme his brother: he can not giue his raunsome to God,

⁸(So precious is the redemption of their soules, and the continuance for euer)

⁹That he may liue still for euer, and not see the graue.

¹⁰For he seeth that wise men die, and also that the ignorant and foolish perish, and leaue their riches for others.

¹¹Yet they thinke, their houses, and their habitations shall continue for euer, euen from generation to generation, and call their lands by their names.

¹²But man shall not continue in honour: he is like the beastes that die.

¹³This their way vttereth their foolishnes: yet their posteritie delite in their talke. Selah.

¹⁴Like sheepe they lie in graue: death deuoureth them, and the righteous shall haue domination ouer them in the morning: for their beautie shall consume, when they shall goe from their house to graue.

¹⁵But God shall deliuer my soule from the power of the graue: for he will receiue me. Selah.

¹⁶Be not thou afrayd when one is made rich, and when the glory of his house is increased.

¹⁷For he shall take nothing away when he dieth, neither shall his pompe descende after him.

¹⁸For while he liued, he reioyced himselfe: and men will prayse thee, when thou makest much of thy selfe.

¹⁹He shall enter into the generation of his fathers, and they shall not liue for euer.

²⁰Man is in honour, and vnderstandeth not: he is like to beasts that perish.

Psalms 49

¹Hear 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.