Psalms 49

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Unto the end, a psalm for the sons of Core.	1 For the leader. A psalm of the Korahites.
2 Hear these things, all ye nations: give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.	2 Hear this, all you peoples! Give ear, all who inhabit the world,
3 All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: both rich and poor together.	3 You of lowly birth or high estate, rich and poor alike.
4 My mouth shall speak wisdom: and the meditation of my heart understanding.	4 My mouth shall speak wisdom, my heart shall offer insight.
5 I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my proposition on the psaltery.	5 I will turn my attention to a problem, expound my question to the music of a lyre.
6 Why shall I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall encompass me.	6 Why should I fear in evil days, when my wicked pursuers ring me round,
7 They that trust in their own strength, and glory in the multitude of their riches,	7 Those who trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches?
8 No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: he shall not give to God his ransom,	8 One cannot redeem oneself, pay to God a ransom.
9 Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: and shall labour for ever,	9 Too high the price to redeem a life; one would never have enough
10 and shall still live unto the end.	10 To stay alive forever and never see the pit.
11 He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying: the senseless and the fool shall perish together: And they shall leave their riches to strangers:	11 Anyone can see that the wisest die, the fool and the senseless pass away too, and must leave their wealth to others.
12 and their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever. Their dwelling places to all generations: they have called their lands by their names.	12 Tombs are their homes forever, their dwellings through all generations, though they gave their names to their lands.
13 And man when he was in honour did not understand; he is compared to senseless beasts, and is become like to them.	13 For all their riches mortals do not abide; they perish like the beasts.
14 This way of theirs is a stumblingblock to them: and afterwards they shall delight in their mouth.	14 This is the destiny of those who trust in folly, the end of those so pleased with their wealth. Selah
15 They are laid in hell like sheep: death shall feed upon them. And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their help shall decay in hell from their glory.	15 Like sheep they are herded into Sheol, where death will be their shepherd. Straight to the grave they descend, where their form will waste away, Sheol will be their palace.
16 But God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, when he shall receive me.	16 But God will redeem my life, will take me from the power of Sheol. Selah
17 Be not thou afraid, when a man shall be made rich, and when the glory of his house shall be increased.	17 Do not fear when others become rich, when the wealth of their houses grows great.
18 For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; nor shall his glory descend with him.	18 When they die they will take nothing with them, their wealth will not follow them down.
19 For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: and he will praise thee when thou shalt do well to him.	19 When living, they congratulate themselves and say: "All praise you, you do so well."
20 He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: and he shall never see light.	20 But they will join the company of their forebears, never again to see the light.
21 Man when he was in honour did not understand: he hath been compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them.	21 For all their riches, if mortals do not have wisdom, they perish like the beasts.