Psalms 49 ASV
Summary: A wisdom psalm addressed to "all peoples" rather than to God, Psalm 49 tackles the problem of wealth and mortality head-on, insisting that riches cannot purchase escape from death: "truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life" (v. 7). It mocks those who name lands after themselves yet, like beasts, perish and leave their wealth to others, repeating the refrain that man "who is in honor and understands not, is like the beasts that perish" (v. 12, 20). Against this it sets a flicker of hope that God may "ransom my soul from the power of Sheol" (v. 15).
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye peoples; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,
2Both low and high, Rich and poor together.
3My mouth shall speak 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 iniquity at my heels compasseth 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 life is costly, And it faileth for ever),
9That he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption.
10For he shall see it. Wise men die; The fool and the brutish alike 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.
12But man being in honor abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish.
13This their way is their folly: Yet after them men approve their sayings. [Selah
14They are appointed as a flock for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd: And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, That there be no habitation for it.
15But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; For he will 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 praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself),
19He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see the light.
20Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, Is like the beasts that perish.
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