Psalms 49 (KJV)

¹To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: ^{for: or, of}

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. ^{all: Heb. generation and generation}

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. ^{approve: Heb. delight in their mouth}

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. ^{beauty: or, strength} ^{in the grave from: or, the grave being an habitation to every one of them}

¹⁵But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. ^{power: Heb. hand} ^{the grave: or, hell}

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. ^{while: Heb. in his life}

¹⁹He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. ^{He: Heb. The soul shall}

²⁰Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.