Psalm 49Psalms49

King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

1. The Evanescence of Wealth

   (Ecclesiastes 5:8–20)

2. 1KJVTo the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:BSBBSB: For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
3. 2KJVBoth low and high, rich and poor, together.BSBBSB: both low and high, rich and poor alike.
4. 3KJVMy mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.BSBBSB: My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
5. 4KJVI will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.BSBBSB: I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
6. 5KJVWherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?BSBBSB: Why should I fear in times of trouble, when wicked usurpers surround me?
7. 6KJVThey that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;BSBBSB: They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
8. 7KJVNone of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:BSBBSB: No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.
9. 8KJV(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)BSBBSB: For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice,
10. 9KJVThat he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.BSBBSB: that he should live on forever and not see decay.
11. 10KJVFor he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.BSBBSB: For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.
12. 11KJVTheir 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.BSBBSB: Their graves are their eternal homes—their dwellings for endless generations—even though their lands were their namesakes.
13. 12KJVNevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.BSBBSB: But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
14. 13KJVThis their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.BSBBSB: This is the fate of the foolish and their followers who endorse their sayings. Selah
15. 14KJVLike 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.BSBBSB: Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.
16. 15KJVBut God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.BSBBSB: But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah
17. 16KJVBe not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;BSBBSB: Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.
18. 17KJVFor when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.BSBBSB: For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
19. 18KJVThough while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.BSBBSB: Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper—
20. 19KJVHe shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.BSBBSB: he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.
21. 20KJVMan that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.BSBBSB: A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.