The Book of Psalms

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 49 -

The transience of wealth

(Ecclesiastes 5:8-20)

To him that excelleth. A Psalme committed to the sonnes of Korah. Heare this, all ye people: giue eare, all ye that dwell in the world,

As well lowe as hie, both rich and poore.

My mouth shall speake of wisdome, and the meditation of mine heart is of knowledge.

I will incline mine eare to a parable, and vtter my graue matter vpon the harpe.

Wherefore should I feare in the euil dayes, when iniquitie shall compasse me about, as at mine heeles?

They trust in their goods, and boast them selues in the multitude of their riches.

Yet a man can by no meanes redeeme his brother: he can not giue his raunsome to God,

(So precious is the redemption of their soules, and the continuance for euer)

That he may liue still for euer, and not see the graue.

For he seeth that wise men die, and also that the ignorant and foolish perish, and leaue their riches for others.

Yet they thinke, their houses, and their habitations shall continue for euer, euen from generation to generation, and call their lands by their names.

But man shall not continue in honour: he is like the beastes that die.

This their way vttereth their foolishnes: yet their posteritie delite in their talke. Selah.

Like sheepe they lie in graue: death deuoureth them, and the righteous shall haue domination ouer them in the morning: for their beautie shall consume, when they shall goe from their house to graue.

But God shall deliuer my soule from the power of the graue: for he will receiue me. Selah.

Be not thou afrayd when one is made rich, and when the glory of his house is increased.

For he shall take nothing away when he dieth, neither shall his pompe descende after him.

For while he liued, he reioyced himselfe: and men will prayse thee, when thou makest much of thy selfe.

He shall enter into the generation of his fathers, and they shall not liue for euer.

Man is in honour, and vnderstandeth not: he is like to beasts that perish.

The transience of wealth

(Ecclesiastes 5:8-20)

Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,

both low and high, rich and poor together.

My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart will utter understanding.

I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle on the harp.

Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—

none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.

For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.

For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.

Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish.

This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. Selah.

They are appointed as a flock for Sheol.(a) Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol,(b) far from their mansion.

But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol,(c) for he will receive me. Selah.

Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.

Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—

he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.

A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.

Footnotes

(a)49:14 Sheol is the place of the dead.

(b)49:14 Sheol is the place of the dead.