Psalms 49
49
Psalm 49#In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who live in this world,
2both low and high,
rich and poor alike:
3My mouth will speak words of wisdom;
the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
4I will turn my ear to a proverb;
with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5Why should I fear when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me –
6those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their great riches?
7No-one can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for them –
8the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough –
9so that they should live on for ever
and not see decay.
10For all can see that the wise die,
that the foolish and the senseless also perish,
leaving their wealth to others.
11Their tombs will remain their houses#49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain for ever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they had#49:11 Or generations, / for they have named lands after themselves.
12People, despite their wealth, do not endure;
they are like the beasts that perish.
13This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.#49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.
14They 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.
15But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;
he will surely take me to himself.
16Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendour of their houses increases;
17for they will take nothing with them when they die,
their splendour will not descend with them.
18Though while they live they count themselves blessed –
and people praise you when you prosper –
19they will join those who have gone before them,
who will never again see the light of life.
20People who have wealth but lack understanding
are like the beasts that perish.
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Psalms 49: NIVUK
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
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Psalms 49
49
Psalm 49
For the choir director; a psalm by Korah’s descendants.
1Listen to this, all you people.
Open your ears, all who live in the world—
2common people and important ones,
rich people and poor ones.
3My mouth will speak wise sayings,
the insights I have carefully considered.
4I will turn my attention to a proverb.
I will explain my riddle with the ⌞music of⌟ a lyre.
5Why should I be afraid in times of trouble,
when slanderers surround me with evil?
6They trust their riches
and brag about their abundant wealth.
7No one can ever buy back another person
or pay God a ransom for his life.
8The price to be paid for his soul is too costly.
He must always give up
9in order to live forever and never see the pit.
10Indeed, one can see that wise people die,
that foolish and stupid people meet the same end.
They leave their riches to others.
11Although they named their lands after themselves,
their graves #49:11 Greek, Syriac, Targum; Masoretic Text “their insides.” have become their homes for ages to come,
their dwelling places throughout every generation.
12But mortals will not continue here with what they treasure.
They are like animals that die.
13This is the final outcome for fools and their followers
who are delighted by what they say: Selah
14Like 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.
15But God will buy me back from the power of hell
because he will take me. Selah
16Do not be afraid when someone becomes rich,
when the greatness of his house increases.
17He will not take anything with him when he dies.
His greatness cannot follow him.
18Even though he blesses himself while he is alive
(and they praise you when you do well for yourself),
19he must join the generation of his ancestors,
who will never see light ⌞again⌟.
20Mortals, with what they treasure, still don’t have understanding.
They are like animals that die.
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