49:1 | | <Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.> Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world. |
49:2 | | High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth. |
49:3 | | From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge. |
49:4 | | I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music. |
49:5 | | What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me? |
49:6 | | Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores. |
49:7 | | Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself; |
49:8 | | (Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.) |
49:9 | | So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld. |
49:10 | | For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others. |
49:11 | | The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands. |
49:12 | | But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts. |
49:13 | | This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah.) |
49:14 | | Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever. |
49:15 | | But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.) |
49:16 | | Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased; |
49:17 | | For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. |
49:18 | | Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself, |
49:19 | | He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again. |
49:20 | | Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts. |