Psalms 49

lamnatseakh livne-qorakh mizmor

For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm.

shimu-zot kol-ha'ammim ha'azinu kol-yosheve khaled

Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

gam-bene adam gam-bene-ish yakhad ashir ve'evyon

both low and high, rich and poor alike.

pi yedabber khokhmot vehagut libbi tevunot

My mouth utters wisdom, my speech is full of insight.

atteh lemashal ozni eftakh bekhinnor khidati

I will turn my attention to a theme, set forth my lesson to the music of a lyre.

lammah ira bime ra avon aqevay yesubbeni

In time of trouble, why should I fear the encompassing evil of those who would supplant me—

habbotekhim al-khelam uverov oshram yithallalu

those who trust in their riches, who glory in their great wealth?

akh lo-fadoh yifdeh ish lo-yitten lelohim kofro

Ah, it cannot redeem anyone, or pay one’s ransom to God;

veyeqar pidyon nafsham vekhadal le'olam

the price of life is too high; and so one ceases to be, forever.

vikhi-od lanetsakh lo yireh hashakhat

Shall anyone live eternally, and never see the grave?

ki yireh khakhamim yamutu yakhad kesil vava'ar yovedu ve'azevu la'akherim khelam

For one sees that the wise die, that the foolish and ignorant both perish, leaving their wealth to others.

qirbam battemo le'olam mishkenotam ledor vador qare'u vishmotam ale adamot

Their grave is their eternal home, the dwelling-place for all generations of those once famous on earth.

ve'adam biqar bal-yalin nimshal kabbehemot nidmu

Mortals do not abide in honor; they are like the beasts that perish.

zeh darkam kesel lamo ve'akharehem befihem yirtsu selah

Such is the fate of those who are self-confident, the end of those pleased with their own talk. Selah.

katson lishol shattu mavet yirem vayyirdu-vam yesharim labboqer (vtsyrm) [vetsuram] levallot she'ol mizzevul lo

Sheeplike they head for Sheol, with Death as their shepherd. The upright shall rule over them at daybreak, and their form shall waste away in Sheol till its nobility be gone.

akh-elohim yifdeh nafshi miyyad-she'ol ki yiqqakheni selah

But God will redeem my life from the clutches of Sheol, by taking me. Selah.

al-tira ki-ya'ashir ish ki-yirbeh kevod beto

Do not be afraid when someone else becomes rich, when their household goods increase;

ki lo vemoto yiqqakh hakkol lo-yered akharayw kevodo

for when they die they can take none of it along; their goods cannot follow them down.

ki-nafsho bekhayyayw yevarekh veyodukha ki-tetiv lakh

Though they congratulate themselves in their lifetime —“All must admit that you did well by yourself”—

tavo ad-dor avotayw ad-netsakh lo yiru-or

yet they must join the company of their ancestors, who will never see daylight again.

adam biqar velo yavin nimshal kabbehemot nidmu

Mortals do not understand honor; they are like the beasts that perish.