King James Bible

English Standard Version

The Transiency of the Wealth

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

1

Why Should I Fear in Times of Trouble?

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Hear this, all peoples!
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

2

Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

2

both low and high,
rich and poor together!

3

My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

3

My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

4

I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

4

I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.

5

Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

5

Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,

6

They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

6

those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?

7

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

7

Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life,

8

(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

8

for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,

9

That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

9

that he should live on forever
and never see the pit.

10

For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

10

For he sees that even the wise die;
the fool and the stupid alike must perish
and leave their wealth to others.

11

Their 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.

11

Their graves are their homes forever,a
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they called lands by their own names.

12

Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

12

Man in his pomp will not remain;
he is like the beasts that perish.

13

This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

13

This is the path of those who have foolish confidence;
yet after them people approve of their boasts.b Selah

14

Like 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.

14

Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright shall rule over them in the morning.
Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.

15

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

15

But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah

16

Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

16

Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
when the glory of his house increases.

17

For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

17

For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
his glory will not go down after him.

18

Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

18

For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed
— and though you get praise when you do well for yourself —

19

He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

19

his soul will go to the generation of his fathers,
who will never again see light.

20

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

20

Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

Parallel

King James Bible

English Standard Version

Psalms 49

Psalms 49