Tehillim 49 - Chapter 49 - Psalm 49

Lamnatsêach livnê Côrach mizmor
Shim’ú zot col haamim, haazína col ioshevê cháled
Gam bene adam, gam bene ish, iáchad ashir veevion
Pi iedaber chochmot, vehagut libi tevunot
Atê lemashal ozni, eftach bechinor chidati
Láma ira bimê ra, avon akevai iessubêni
Habotechim al chelam, uverov oshram yit’halálu
Ach lo fado yifde ish, lo yiten lelohim cofro
Veiecar pidion nafsham, vechadal leolam
Vichi od lanétsach, lo yir’e hashachat
Ki yir’e chachamim iamútu, iachad kessil vaváar iovêdu, veazevu laacherim chelam
Kirbam batêmo leolam, mishkenotam ledor vador, car’u vishmotam ale adamot
Veadam bicar bal ialin, nimshal cabehemot nidmu
Ze darcam késsel lámo, veacharehem befihem yirtsu, sêla
Catson lisheol shátu, mavet yir’em, veyirdu vam iesharim labóker, vetsuram levalot sheol mizevul lo
Ach Elohim yifde nafshi miyad sheol, ki yicachêni sêla
Al tira ki iaashir ish, ki yirbe kevod beto
Ki lo vemoto yicach hacol, lo iered acharav kevodo
Ki nafsho bechaiav ievarech, veiodúcha ki tetiv lach
Tavo ad dor avotav, ad nétsach lo yir’u or
Adam bicar velo iavin, nimshal cabehemot nidmu

1. To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
2. Hear this all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world;
3. Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
4. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
5. I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my riddle to the lyre.
6. Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me?
7. Those who trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
8. None of them can by any means ransom his brother, nor give to God a price for him;
9. For the ransom of their soul is costly, and it ceases for ever;
10. That he might still live for ever, and not see the pit.
11. For when he sees that wise men die, that the fool and the stupid alike perish, and leave their wealth to others,
12. 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.
13. Nevertheless man does not abide in honor; he is like the beasts that perish.
14. This is their way in their folly; yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
15. Like sheep they are appointed to Sheol; death shall be their shepherd;and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their form shall waste away in Sheol, leaving behind their dwelling.
16. But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; for he shall receive me. Selah.
17. Do not be afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
18. For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not go down after him.
19. Though while he lives he blesses his soul; and though men will praise you when you do well for yourself.
20. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
21. Man who is in honor, and does not understands, is like the beasts that perish.

Material things have no permanence

This psalm is a strong message and inspiration for all, rich and poor alike, rebuking man for transgressions which, owing to habit, he no longer considers sinful; yet, these sins incriminate man on the Day of Judgement. The psalm speaks specifically to the wealthy, who rely not on God but on their wealth.