Psalmus 48 (49)
Psalm 48 (49)
Vanitas divitiarum
Vanity of riches
Dives difficile intrabit in regnum cælorum (Mt 19, 23).
It's hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt 19:23).
I
I
Audíte hæc, omnes gentes, * áuribus percípite, omnes, qui habitátis orbem:
Hearken unto this, all of thee, O nations, give ear, all thou inhabitants of the world,
quique húmiles et viri nóbiles, * simul in unum dives et pauper!
whether thou art of humble or noble condition, rich and poor together.
Os meum loquétur sapiéntiam * et meditátio cordis mei prudéntiam.
My mouth utters wisdom, and my heart meditates thoughts of prudence.
Inclinábo in parábolam aurem meam, * apériam in psaltério ænígma meum.
I lend an ear unto the parables that God inspires in me, I explain my enigma unto the sound of the psalterion.
Cur timébo in diébus malis, * cum iníquitas supplantántium circúmdabit me?
Wherefore should I fear in the days of misfortune, when the iniquity of my persecutors besieges me?
Qui confídunt in virtúte sua * et in multitúdine divitiárum suárum gloriántur.
They who put their trust in their possessions, their glory in their great riches.
Etenim seípsum non rédimet homo; * non dabit Deo propitiatiónem suam.
A man cannot redeem his brother, nor can he pay God his ransom.
Nímium est prétium redemptiónis ánimæ eius: † ad últimum defíciet, * ut vivat usque in finem, nec vídeat intéritum.
The ransom of their lives is too dear: it is forevermore impossible, for him to live forevermore, and never to behold the pit.
Et vidébit sapiéntes moriéntes; † simul insípiens et stultus períbunt * et relínquent aliénis divítias suas.
And he shall behold that the wise die; the foolish and the stupid also perish, leaving others their possessions.
Sepúlcra eórum domus illórum in ætérnum; † tabernácula eórum in progéniem et progéniem, * etsi vocavérunt nomínibus suis terras suas.
They imagine that their houses will be eternal; that their tents shall subsist from age to age, and they give their names to their lands.
Et homo, cum sit in honóre, non permanébit; † comparátus est iuméntis, quæ péreunt, * et símilis factus est illis.
And man, even if he is honored, does not last; just as beasts of burden perish, he is like them.
