Psalm XLIX

Hear this, all people, and give ear
[All you] that in the world do dwell;

Both low and high, both rich and poor,
My mouth [to you] shall wisdom tell.

My heart shall knowledge meditate;
I will [also] incline mine ear

To parables: And on the harp
My sayings dark [I will] declare.

Why should I fear in evil days,
When [fruits of] mine iniquities
Of my own he'll surround me with
[Many] deserv'd calamities.

As for those men, who in their wealth
And [worldly] treasure put their trust;
And in their riches multitude,
And great estates do [make their] boast.

None of them can his brother's life
Redeem by any [means or] way;
Nor can he for him unto God
[Any] sufficient ransom pay.

To redeem life's impossible,
And [therefore] it can never be,

That he should always live on earth,
And not [common] corruption see.

For that both wise and fools do die,
They [daily] see and must perceive;
And wordly bruitish men at death
Their [loved] wealth to others leave.

Their inward thought is that their house
And [stately] dwelling-places shall
Stand through all ages; they their lands
[Therefore] by their own names do call.

Nevertheless none of them all
[On earth] abide in honour must;
Their flesh must perish as the beasts,
That dyes and turns to [common] dust.

Thus brutish folly plainly is
Their [boast and] chosen worldly way;
Yet their deceiv'd posterity
Do [like and] follow what they say.

Like sheep they are laid in the grave,
And [hungry] death shall them devour;
And in the morning upright men
Shall over them have [ruling] power.
Their strength and beauty shall consume,
And [it shall] perish in the grave;
When carry'd from their houses, they
Shall their [in dust] their dwelling have.

But God will sure redeem my soul
From the hand of [death and] the grave;
For he my hope saviour is,
And he [himself] will me receive.

Be not discouraged by fear,
When wicked men grow [great and] rich;
And when the glory of their house,
[Their pomp] and pow'r increaseth much.

For he shall carry nothing hence,
When [certain] death his days shall end;
Nor shall his glory after him
Into the [loathsome] grave descend.

Though he his flatter'd soul did bless,
Whil'st he on earth [in wealth] did live;
And when thy courses prosperous are,
[Worldly] men will thee praises give.

Yet shall he to his fathers go,
Who lived here [on earth] before;
And shall be laid among the dead,
Who [here shall] see the light no more

Man that in worldly honour lives,
And [God's Word] understandeth not,
Is nothing better than the beasts
That [die and] in the grave do rot