Noyes - Psalms - 49

49:1  Hear this, all ye nations; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world;

49:2  Both high and low, rich and poor alike!

49:3  My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my mind shall be understanding.

49:4  I will incline mine ear to a poem; I will utter my song upon the harp.

49:5  Why should I fear in the days of adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries encompasseth me;

49:6  They who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness of their wealth?

49:7  No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,

49:8  That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.

49:9  Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.

49:10  For he seeth that wise men die, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, And leave their wealth to others.

49:11  They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.

49:12  Yet man, who is in honor, abideth not; He is like the beasts that perish.

49:13  Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. [Pause.]

49:14  Like sheep they are cast into the underworld; Death shall feed upon them; And the upright shall soon trample upon them. Their form shall be consumed in the underworld, And they shall no more have a dwelling-place.

49:15  But God will redeem my life from the underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. [Pause.]

49:16  Be not thou afraid, when one becometh rich; When the glory of his house is increased!

49:17  For, when he dieth, he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.

49:18  Though in his life he thought himself happy,—Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity,—

49:19  Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!

49:20  The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.