Psalm 49

HEar all ye people, hearken all
that in the world do dwell:
Both high and low, both rich and poor,
together mark it well.
My mouth to you the precepts sound
of wisdome shall impart,
Of understanding are the thoughts
that issue from my heart.

Unto an hidden parable,
I will incline mine ear,
And then will open on my harp
the wisdome that I hear.
Why should I fear in evil time
when mine iniquities
Of my footsteps surround me with
deserv'd calamities?

The rich men who do make their wealth
their only trust and stay,
And boast themselves of their great store
of riches that decay;
None of them can his brothers life
redeem by any way,
Nor can he for him unto God
sufficient ransome pay,

(The price of life's impossible,
paid it can never be)
That he should alway live on earth,
and not corruption see.
For that wise men and fools both die,
they easily perceive,
And being dead, to other men
their wealth behinde they leave.

Yet their deep thought is, that their house
continue ever shall,
And their fair dwellings, and their lands,
by their own names they call.
But all in vain, for no man shall
abide continually
In honour here, but shall be like
unto the beasts that die.

The Second Part.

This their ill-grounded folly, is
apparent in their way,
And yet their fond posterity
approve what they do say.
Like silly sheep in grave they lie,
and death doth them devour,
And in the morning shall the just
o're them have rule and pow'r.

Their beauty shall consume away,
and perish in the grave,
When for an house in dust they chang'd
their sumptuous buildings have.
But God will surely me redeem
from pow'r of grave and hell,
And he at last shall me receive
with him in blisse to dwell.

When then a man grows very rich,
afraid thou must not bee,
Nor when the glory of his house
thou dost encreased see.
For he shall carry nothing hence,
when death his days doth end,
Nor shall his glory after him
into the grave descend.

Though he his soul did seem to blesse,
while he on earth did live,
(For when thou to thy self dost well,
men will thee praises give)
Yet shall he to his Fathers goe,
that have been dead before,
To their own generation
that light shall see no more.

Man then in honour plac't, that is
nor wise, when he shall die,
Is no whit better then the beasts
that perish utterly.