King James Version

Psalms 49:20

Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 49:21.

אָדָ֣םadampersonאָדָםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “person”, the ordinary formH120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)[idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person.בִּ֭יקָרbiqarin honourיְקָרpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “in honour”, the ordinary formH3366value, i.e. (concretely) wealth; abstractly, costliness, dignityhonour, precious (things), price.וְלֹ֣אveloand no , -r,לֹאconjunction, particle, negative — “and no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…יָבִ֑יןyavinunderstandבִּיןverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “understand”, an unfinished actionH995to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understandattend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) und…נִמְשַׁ֖לnimshaluse proverbמָשַׁלverb, niphal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “use proverb”, a completed actionH4911to liken, i.e. (transitively) to use figurative language (an allegory, adage, song or the like); intransitively, to resemblebe(-come) like, compare, use (as a) proverb, speak (in proverbs), utter.כַּבְּהֵמ֣וֹתkabhemotas beastבְּהֵמָהpreposition, with the article, noun, common, feminine, plural, absolute — “as beast”, the ordinary formH929properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)beast, cattle.נִדְמֽוּnidmvbe cut downדָּמָהverb, niphal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “be cut down”, a completed actionH1820to be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or perish; trans. to destroycease, be cut down (off), destroy, be brought to silence, be undone, [idiom] utterly.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(49-21) Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.

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The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, Is like the beasts that perish.

Young’s Literal Translation

Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!

World English Bible

A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.

Darby Translation

Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

Douay-Rheims

Sitting thou didst speak against thy brother, and didst lay a scandal against thy mother’s son:

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(49-21) Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Man that is in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἄνθρωπος ἐν τιμῇ ὢν, οὐ συνῆκε, παρασυνεβλήθη τοῖς κτήνεσι τοῖς ἀνοήτοις, καὶ ὡμοιώθη αὐτοῖς.