1 HEAR this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
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.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7 None 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:)
9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person 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.
12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. 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.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

1To the chiefe Musician, a Psalme for the sonnes of Korah. Heare this, all yee people, giue eare all yee inhabitants of the world:

2Both low, and high, rich and poore together.

3My mouth shall speake of wisedome: and the meditation of my heart shalbe of vnderstanding.

4I will incline mine eare to a parable; I will open my darke saying vpon the harpe.

5Wherefore should I feare in the daies of euill, when the iniquitie of my heeles shall compasse me about?

6They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselues in the multitude of their riches:

7None of them can by any meanes redeeme his brother, nor giue to God a ransome for him:

8(For the redemption of their soule is precious, and it ceaseth for euer.)

9That he should still liue for euer, and not see corruption.

10For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the foole, and the brutish person perish, and leaue their wealth to others.

11Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for euer, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their owne names.

12Neuerthelesse man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beastes that perish.

13This their way is their follie; yet their posteritie approue their sayings. Selah.

14Like sheepe they are layd in the graue, death shall feede on them; and the vpright shall haue dominion ouer them in the morning, and their beauty shall consume in the graue, from their dwelling.

15But God will redeeme my soule from the power of the graue; for he shall receiue 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 whiles he liued, he blessed his soule: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thy selfe.

19Hee shall goe to the generation of his fathers, they shall neuer see light.

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

 

 

 

 

IV == Ps 78:2 ; Matt 13:35

 

 

VI == Mark 10:24

 

VII == Mat 16:26

 

 

 

 

X == Prov 11:4 ; Ecci 2:16 , 18 , 21

 

 

 

 

 

XIII == Luke 12:20

XIV == Mal 4:3 ; Luke 22:30 ; Rev 2:26 ; 20:4

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVII == Job 27:19

XVIII == Deut 29:19 ; Luke 12:19

 

 

XX == Ps 49:12 ; Eccl 3:19

 

 

 

1 For the leader. A psalm of the Korahites.

2 Hear this, all you peoples! Give ear, all who inhabit the world,

3 You of lowly birth or high estate, rich and poor together.

4 My mouth shall speak words of wisdom, my heart shall offer insights.

5 I will turn my ear to a riddle, expound my question on a lyre.

6 Why should I fear in evil days, with the iniquity of my assailants surrounding me,

7 Of those who trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches? or pay to God his own ransom.

9 The redemption of his soul is costly; and he will pass away forever.

10 Will he live on forever, then, and never see the Pit of Corruption?

11 Indeed, he will see that the wise die, and the fool will perish together with the senseless, and they leave their wealth to others.

12 Their tombs are their homes forever, their dwellings through all generations, “They named countries after themselves”

13— but man does not abide in splendor. He is like the beasts—they perish.

14 This is the way of those who trust in themselves, and the end of those who take pleasure in their own mouth.

15 Like a herd of sheep they will be put into Sheol, and Death will shepherd them. Straight to the grave they descend, where their form will waste away, Sheol will be their palace.

16 But God will redeem my life, will take me from the hand of Sheol.

17 Do not fear when a man becomes rich, when the wealth of his house grows great.

18 At his death he will not take along anything, his glory will not go down after him.

19 During his life his soul uttered blessings; “They will praise you, for you do well for yourself.”

20 But he will join the company of his fathers, never again to see the light.

21 In his prime, man does not understand. He is like the beasts—they perish.

PSALMS 49, 50. VANITY OF RICHES: Vanity of life. Death comes to all, similar to Psalm 39. In giving to God we are returning what is already God's. God already owns the Earth and all that is therein.

This is a Psalm of wisdom and deals with the prosperity of the wicked. He points out that their riches cannot redeem them, even though they may think they can live on forever without a day of judgment. They may have their name over their property, v 11, but that will not keep them from the grave. In contrast, the Psalmist has the assurance that God will redeem and receive him, v 15, and implying resurrection. The closing verses continue the thought that it is foolish to envy the rich who know not God.