Psalm 49
Words: The Psalter of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, 1887 ed.
Note: This page also has a Sevens Metre version of this psalm.
1 Hear this, all people, and give ear, All in the world that dwell; Both low and high, both rich and poor: My mouth shall wisdom tell. 2 My heart shall knowledge meditate: I will incline my ear To parables, and on the harp My sayings dark declare. 3 Amidst those days that evil are, Why should I, fearing, doubt? When enemies supplanting me Shall compass me about. 4 Whoe'er they be whose confidence Upon their wealth is placed, And who do boast themselves because Their riches are increased: 5 Yet none of these his brother can Redeem by any way; Nor can he unto God for him Sufficient ransom pay. 6 (Their soul's redemption precious is, And it can never be,) That still he should forever live, And not corruption see. 7 Because he sees that wise men die, The fools, the brutish, too, They all shall perish, and their wealth Must then to others go. 8 Their inward thought is, that their house And dwelling-places shall Continue evermore; their lands By their own names they call. 9 But yet in honor shall not man Abide continually, But passing hence may therefore be Compared to beasts that die. 10 Thus brutish folly plainly is Their wisdom and their way; Yet their posterity approve What they do fondly say. 11 Like sheep they in the grave are laid, And death shall them devour; And in the morning upright men Shall over them have power. 12 Their beauty from their dwelling shall Consume within the grave: But from hews hand God will me free, For he shall me receive. 13 Be not afraid when one advanced In riches thou dost see; Nor when his house in glory is Increased exceedingly. 14 For he shall carry nothing hence When death his days shall end; Nor shall his glory after him Into the grave descend. 15 For though his soul he fondly bless While he on earth doth live; (And when thou to thyself dost well Men will thee praises give;) 16 He to his father's race shall go, They never shall see light. Man honored wanting knowledge is Like beasts that perish quite.
1 Hear this, all ye people, hear, Earth's inhabitants give ear, All of high and low estate, Rich and poor together met. 2 For my mouth shall wisdom speak, Knowledge in my heart I'll seek. Lend to parables my ear, On the harp make dark things clear. 3 Why should I to fear give way When I see the evil day; When my wicked, artful foes-- Vile supplanters round me close. 4 They that trust in treasured gold, They that boast of wealth untold, None can bid his brother live, None to God a ransom give. 5 Soul-redemption precious is, And the hope must ever cease That forever live shall he, And corruption never see. 6 For he sees that wise men die, Brutish fools in death must lie; Then their riches' hoarded heap, Other hands in turn shall keep. 7 Secret hopes engage their heart, That their house shall ne'er depart; That their lordly dwelling-place Shall remain from race to race. 8 To their lands they give their name, In the hope of lasting fame: But man's pomp shall not abide; He shall die as beasts have died. 9 Folly thus marks out their way, Yet their seed laud what they say: In the grave like sheep they're laid, Death shall there upon them feed: 10 O'er them soon shall rule the just And their strength shall turn to dust; But my soul shall God redeem From the grave to dwell with him. 11 Fear not when one's wealth is great, When his house gains high estate; Death shall all his glory end, Naught shall after him descend. 12 Though in life his soul be blessed As of all he wished, possessed (And the world thy praise will tell, When to self thou hast done well); 13 With his fathers he shall lie, Where no light shall meet his eye. Man in honor when not wise, Like the beast both lives and dies.
