Psalm 49:14
New International Version
They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.

New Living Translation
Like sheep, they are led to the grave, where death will be their shepherd. In the morning the godly will rule over them. Their bodies will rot in the grave, far from their grand estates.

English Standard Version
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.

Berean Standard Bible
Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.

King James Bible
Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

New King James Version
Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.

New American Standard Bible
Like sheep they sink down to Sheol; Death will be their shepherd; And the upright will rule over them in the morning, And their form shall be for Sheol to consume So that they have no lofty home.

NASB 1995
As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning, And their form shall be for Sheol to consume So that they have no habitation.

NASB 1977
As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning; And their form shall be for Sheol to consume, So that they have no habitation.

Legacy Standard Bible
As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, And their form shall be for Sheol to consume, Far away from his habitation.

Amplified Bible
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead); Death will be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning, And their form and beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, So that they have no dwelling [on earth].

Christian Standard Bible
Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.

American Standard Version
They are appointed as a flock for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, That there be no habitation for it.

Contemporary English Version
They are like sheep with death as their shepherd, leading them to the grave. In the morning God's people will walk all over them, as their bodies lie rotting in their home, the grave.

English Revised Version
They are appointed as a flock for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd: and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Like sheep, they are driven to hell with death as their shepherd. (Decent people will rule them in the morning.) Their forms will decay in the grave, far away from their comfortable homes.

Good News Translation
they are doomed to die like sheep, and Death will be their shepherd. The righteous will triumph over them, as their bodies quickly decay in the world of the dead far from their homes.

International Standard Version
Like sheep, they are destined for the realm of the dead, with death as their shepherd. The upright will have dominion over them in the morning; their strength will be consumed in the afterlife, so that they have no home.

Majority Standard Bible
Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.

NET Bible
They will travel to Sheol like sheep, with death as their shepherd. The godly will rule over them when the day of vindication dawns; Sheol will consume their bodies and they will no longer live in impressive houses.

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

Webster's Bible Translation
Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

World English Bible
They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
They have set themselves as sheep for Sheol, "" Death afflicts them, "" And the upright rule over them in the morning, "" And their form [is] for consumption. Sheol [is] a dwelling for him.

Young's Literal Translation
As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form is for consumption. Sheol is a dwelling for him.

Smith's Literal Translation
As sheep they were laid in hades; death shall rule over them, and the upright shall come down upon them in the morning; and their rock for falling away in hades from a dwelling to him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They are laid in hell like sheep: death shall feed upon them. And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their help shall decay in hell from their glory.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They have been placed in Hell like sheep. Death will feed on them. And the just will have dominion over them in the morning. And their help will grow old in Hell for their glory.

New American Bible
Like a herd of sheep they will be put into Sheol, and Death will shepherd them. Straight to the grave they descend, where their form will waste away, Sheol will be their palace.

New Revised Standard Version
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away; Sheol shall be their home.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Like sheep they are consigned to the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; the grave shall consume their beauty, and they shall be cast out from their glory.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They will be given up to Sheol and death will feed on them, and the upright will rule over them in the morning, and Sheol will consume their form and they shall be cast out from their glory.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Like sheep they are appointed for the nether-world; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their form shall be for the nether-world to wear away, That there be no habitation for it.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They have laid them as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Evanescence of Wealth
13This is the fate of the self-confident and their followers who endorse their sayings. Selah 14Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode. 15But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah…

Cross References
Ecclesiastes 3:19-20
For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile. / All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.

Job 21:13
They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace.

Job 24:19-20
As drought and heat consume the melting snow, so Sheol steals those who have sinned. / The womb forgets them; the worm feeds on them; they are remembered no more. So injustice is broken like a tree.

Isaiah 14:11
Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are your bed and worms your blanket.

Daniel 12:2
And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.

Matthew 25:46
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

John 5:28-29
Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice / and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. / For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. / It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. / It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:52-54
in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. / For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. / When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

Philippians 3:21
who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.

2 Thessalonians 1:9
They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,

Revelation 20:12-15
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. / The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. / Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

Like

Psalm 44:11
Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.

Jeremiah 12:3
But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

Romans 8:36
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

they

Job 17:13,14
If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness…

Job 21:13,26
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave…

Job 30:23
For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

death

Job 24:19,20
Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned…

upright

Psalm 47:3
He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

Daniel 7:22
Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Malachi 4:3
And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

morning

Psalm 30:5
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Hosea 6:3
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

their

Psalm 39:11
When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

Job 4:21
Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.

Jump to Previous
Appointed Beauty Consume Death Decay Descend Destined Dominion Dwelling Far Fate Feed Flesh Flock Form Forms Grave Habitation Home Laid Morning Nether-World Princely Resting-Place Rule Sheep Sheol Shepherd Straight Themselves Underworld Upright Waste Wasted Wear
Jump to Next
Appointed Beauty Consume Death Decay Descend Destined Dominion Dwelling Far Fate Feed Flesh Flock Form Forms Grave Habitation Home Laid Morning Nether-World Princely Resting-Place Rule Sheep Sheol Shepherd Straight Themselves Underworld Upright Waste Wasted Wear
Psalm 49
1. An earnest persuasion to build the faith of resurrection
16. Worldly prosperity is not to be admired














Like sheep
The imagery of sheep is frequently used in the Bible to describe people, often highlighting their vulnerability and need for guidance. In the Hebrew context, sheep were common livestock, symbolizing innocence but also helplessness without a shepherd. This phrase suggests that people, in their mortality, are like sheep, easily led and in need of divine guidance. The metaphor underscores the human condition of dependency and the inevitability of death, which is a common theme in wisdom literature.

They are destined for Sheol
Sheol, in Hebrew thought, is the abode of the dead, a shadowy place where all souls go after death. It is not necessarily a place of punishment but rather a realm of the departed. The phrase indicates the inevitability of death for all, regardless of status or wealth. This serves as a humbling reminder of the transient nature of earthly life and the ultimate destiny that awaits everyone, emphasizing the need for spiritual preparedness.

Death will be their shepherd
This phrase presents a stark contrast to the familiar image of the Lord as a shepherd. Here, death is personified as a shepherd, guiding the souls of the unwise to Sheol. It suggests that without the guidance of God, death becomes the ultimate leader, underscoring the futility of trusting in worldly wealth or wisdom. This imagery serves as a warning to seek the true Shepherd, who offers eternal life.

The upright will rule over them in the morning
The "morning" symbolizes a new beginning or resurrection, contrasting the darkness of Sheol. The "upright" refers to those who live righteously according to God's commandments. This phrase promises that the righteous will ultimately triumph and have authority in the life to come. It reflects the biblical theme of divine justice, where the faithful are rewarded and the unrighteous face consequences.

Their form will decay in Sheol
This phrase emphasizes the physical decay that accompanies death, a stark reminder of human mortality. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the body was often seen as integral to one's identity, and its decay in Sheol signifies the end of earthly existence. This serves as a sobering reminder of the impermanence of life and the futility of placing hope in material things.

Far from their lofty abode
The "lofty abode" likely refers to the earthly status, wealth, or power that individuals may have enjoyed. The phrase highlights the separation between one's earthly achievements and their ultimate fate in Sheol. It serves as a caution against pride and self-reliance, reminding believers that true security and eternal dwelling come only from a relationship with God. This reinforces the biblical teaching that treasures should be stored in heaven, not on earth.

(14) Like sheep they are laid in the grave.--Rather, like a flock for sheol they are arranged; death is their shepherd. While planning for a long life, and mapping out their estates as if for a permanent possession, they are but a flock of sheep, entirely at the disposal and under the direction of another, and this shepherd is death. Comp. Keble's paraphrase.

"Even as a flock arrayed are they

For the dark grave; Death guides their way,

Death is their shepherd now."

The rendering, "feed on them," is an error. The rest of the verse as it stands is quite unintelligible. Among the many conjectured emendations, the best is (Burgess) to point the verb as the future of y?rad, and render, "and the upright shall go down to the grave amongst them (i.e., amongst the ungodly) until the morning" (for the last words compare Deuteronomy 16:4), when in contrast to the wicked they shall see light (Psalm 49:20).

Adopting this emendation, a new force is lent to the next two clauses, which have puzzled modern commentators, as they did the ancient translators (LXX., "their help shall grow old in hell from their glory.") By a slight change of points and accents, and taking mizbul as a derivative noun equivalent to zebul (so also Gratz), we get, "Their beauty (is) for corruption; sheol (is) its dwelling," i.e., all, wise and unwise, good and bad, must descend to the under world (Psalm 49:11), so that the upright accompany the wicked thither, and it becomes the dwelling-place of their beauty, i.e., their bodies. . . .

Verse 14. - Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them. With the foolish fancies and vain conceits of the ungodly rich men, the psalmist now contrasts the reality. When they die they are "laid in the grave," or "ranged in Hades" (Kay), as sheep in a sheepfold. There is no escape for them. Death is their shepherd; he keeps them, watches over them, tends them, allows none to quit the fold. And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. When the resurrection morn comes - and no other explanation appears to be possible (see even Cheyne) - it will bring them no release; the righteous will then "have domination over them," and will certainly not set them free (Revelation 21:8). And their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling; rather, and their beauty is for Hades to consume out of its dwelling; i.e. its clay tenement (so Dr. Kay).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Like sheep
כַּצֹּ֤אן ׀ (kaṣ·ṣōn)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

they are destined
שַׁתּוּ֮ (šat·tū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8371: To place, array, reflex, to lie

for Sheol.
לִֽשְׁא֣וֹל (liš·’ō·wl)
Preposition-l | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7585: Underworld (place to which people descend at death)

Death
מָ֤וֶת (mā·weṯ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

will be their shepherd.
יִ֫רְעֵ֥ם (yir·‘êm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

The upright
יְשָׁרִ֨ים ׀ (yə·šā·rîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 3477: Straight, right

will rule them
וַיִּרְדּ֘וּ (way·yir·dū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7287: To tread down, subjugate, to crumble off

in
בָ֤ם (ḇām)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

the morning,
לַבֹּ֗קֶר (lab·bō·qer)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

and their form
וְ֭צוּרָם (wə·ṣū·rām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6736: A form, an, image

will decay
לְבַלּ֥וֹת (lə·ḇal·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1086: To fail, to wear out, decay

in Sheol,
שְׁא֗וֹל (šə·’ō·wl)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 7585: Underworld (place to which people descend at death)

far from their lofty abode.
מִזְּבֻ֥ל (miz·zə·ḇul)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2073: Elevation, height, lofty abode


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OT Poetry: Psalm 49:14 They are appointed as a flock (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 49:13
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