Psalms 49
49
(A psalm by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)
Don't Depend on Wealth
1Everyone on this earth,
now listen to what I say!
2Listen, no matter who you are,
rich or poor.
3I speak words of wisdom,
and my thoughts make sense.
4I have in mind a mystery
that I will explain
while playing my harp.
5Why should I be afraid
in times of trouble,
when I am surrounded
by vicious enemies?
6They trust in their riches
and brag about
all their wealth.
7You cannot buy back your life
or pay off God!
8It costs far too much
to buy back your life.
You can never pay God enough
9to stay alive forever
and safe from death.
10 #
Si 11.19. We see that wise people die,
and so do stupid fools.
Then their money is left
for someone else.
11The grave#49.11 The grave: Some ancient translations; Hebrew “Their inward thoughts.” will be their home
forever and ever,
although they once had land
of their own.
12Our human glory disappears,
and, like animals, we die.
13Here is what happens to fools
and to those who trust
the words of fools:#49.13 and to those … fools: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
14They are like sheep
with death as their shepherd,
leading them to the grave.
In the morning God's people
will walk all over them,#49.14 as their shepherd … over them: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
as their bodies lie rotting
in their home, the grave.
15But God will rescue me
from the power of death.
16Don't let it bother you
when others get rich
and live in luxury.
17Soon they will die
and all their wealth
will be left behind.
18We humans are praised
when we do well,
and all of us are glad
to be alive.
19But we each will go down
to our ancestors,
never again to see
the light of day.
20Our human glory disappears,
and, like animals, we die.
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Psalms 49: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Psalms 49
49
The Foolishness of Trusting in Riches#Ps 49 Hebrew title: A psalm by the clan of Korah.
1Hear this, everyone!
Listen, all people everywhere,
2great and small alike,
rich and poor together.
3My thoughts will be clear;
I will speak words of wisdom.
4I will turn my attention to proverbs
and explain their meaning as I play the harp.
5I am not afraid in times of danger
when I am surrounded by enemies,
6by evil people who trust in their riches
and boast of their great wealth.
7A person can never redeem himself;
he cannot pay God the price for his life,
8because the payment for a human life is too great.
What he could pay would never be enough
9to keep him from the grave,
to let him live for ever.
10Anyone can see that even the wise die,
as well as the foolish and stupid.
They all leave their riches to their descendants.
11Their graves#49.11 Some ancient translations graves; Hebrew inner thoughts. are their homes for ever;
there they stay for all time,
though they once had lands of their own.
12No one's greatness can save him from death;
he will still die like the animals.
13See what happens to those who trust in themselves,
the fate of those#49.13 One ancient translation the fate of those; Hebrew after them. who are satisfied with their wealth —
14they 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.#49.14 in… homes; Hebrew unclear.
15But God will rescue me;
he will save me from the power of death.
16Don't be upset when someone becomes rich,
when his wealth grows even greater;
17he cannot take it with him when he dies;
his wealth will not go with him to the grave.
18Even if he is satisfied with this life
and is praised because he is successful,
19he will join all his ancestors in death,
where the darkness lasts for ever.
20His greatness cannot save him from death;
he will still die like the animals.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.