THE *BOOK OF
PSALMS.
Psalm 49 ©
The prophet, having stirred up all men to attention, makes a contrast of the idle trust of worldly men in their riches, might and honor in this transitory life, to the holy trust and confidence of the faithful in God, Who shall raise them from the dead and give them everlasting life; exhorting all the faithful thereupon not to fear the riches or power of any worldly man whosoever.
To the 1chief Musician, A Psalm for the 2sons of Korah.
HEAR this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Both 3low and high, rich and poor, together.
My mouth shall speak of 4wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of 5understanding.
Ia will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my 6dark saying upon the 7harp.
Wherefore should I fear in the days of 8evil, when the 9iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
None of them can 10by any means redeem his 11brother, nor give to 12God a 13ransom for him:
(For the 14redemption of their 15soul is 16precious, and it 17ceaseth for ever:)
That he should 18still live 19for ever, and not see 20corruption.
21For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the 22brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
23Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to 24all generations; 25they call their lands after their own names.
Nevertheless man being in 26honour 27abideth not: he is like the beasts that 28perish.
This their 29way is their 30folly: yet their posterity approve their 31sayings. 32Selah.
Like 33sheep they are 34laid in the 35grave; death shall 36feed on them; and the upright shall have 37dominion over them in the 38morning; and their 39beauty shall 40consume in the grave from their 41dwelling.
42But God will redeem my 43soul from 44the power of the grave: 45for he shall receive me. Selah.
46Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is 47increased;
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
Though while he lived he blessed his 48soul: and 49men will praise thee, 50when thou doest well to thyself.
51He shall go to the generation of his 52fathers; they shall never see 53light.
Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.