King James Version

Psalms • Chapter 49

1 For the choirmaster, a psalm of the sons of Korah. 2 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the earth. 3 Both mankind and the sons of man together, rich and poor. 4 I will speak wise things and my thoughts will be about understanding. 5 You, to/for a proverb, my ear; I will open with a lyre my riddle. 6 Why should I fear in days of evil, when the iniquity of my foes surrounds me? 7 Those who trust in their strength and in the abundance of their wealth will boast. 8 A brother cannot redeem; a man will not give to God a ransom for him. 9 And the ransom of their soul is precious and will cease forever. 10 And he will live forever; he will not see destruction. 11 For the wise will see and die together; the fool and the brutish will perish, and they will leave their wealth to others. 12 In the houses of your dwelling place for ever, your dwellings from generation to generation are called by your names upon the lands. 13 And man, in honor, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. 14 This is the way of the foolish, and after them, their mouth will desire silence. 15 Like sheep to Sheol, death shall graze them, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their form shall be consumed in Sheol, far from their dwelling. 16 But God will redeem my soul from the hand of Sheol, for He will take me. Selah. 17 Do not be afraid because a man will become rich when he increases the glory of his house. 18 For he will not take the whole in death; his glory will not descend after him. 19 For his soul will bless you and he will acknowledge you, for you will do well for him. 20 You will come to the generation of my fathers; to eternity they will not see light.