Psalms 49
49
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1Hear this, all peoples!
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2both low and high,
rich and poor together!
3My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
5Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
6men who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7Truly no man can ransom himself,#49.7 Another reading is no man can ransom his brother
or give to God the price of his life,
8for the ransom of his#49.8 Gk: Heb their life is costly,
and can never suffice,
9that he should continue to live on for ever,
and never see the Pit.
10Yea, he shall see that even the wise die,
the fool and the stupid alike must perish
and leave their wealth to others.
11Their graves#49.11 Gk Syr Compare Tg: Heb their inward (thought) are their homes for ever,
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they named lands their own.
12Man cannot abide in his pomp,
he is like the beasts that perish.
13This is the fate of those who have foolish confidence,
the end of those#49.13 Tg: Heb after them who are pleased with their portion. Selah
14Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
Death shall be their shepherd;
straight to the grave they descend,#49.14 Cn: Heb the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning
and their form shall waste away;
Sheol shall be their home.#49.14 Heb uncertain
15But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah
16Be not afraid when one becomes rich,
when the glory#49.16 Or wealth of his house increases.
17For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
his glory#49.17 Or wealth will not go down after him.
18Though, while he lives, he counts himself happy,
and though a man gets praise when he does well for himself,
19he will go to the generation of his fathers,
who will never more see the light.
20Man cannot abide in his pomp,
he is like the beasts that perish.
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Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
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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