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
Misplaced Trust in Wealth
For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
1Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who inhabit the world, # Ps 78:1; Mc 1:2
2both low and high, # Lit both sons of Adam and sons of man
rich and poor together. # Ps 62:9
3My mouth speaks wisdom;
my heart’s meditation brings understanding. # Ps 37:30
4I turn my ear to a proverb;
I explain my riddle with a lyre. # Nm 12:8; Mt 13:35
5Why should I fear in times of trouble?
The iniquity of my foes surrounds me. # Ps 23:4; 27:1
6They trust in their wealth
and boast of their abundant riches. # Jb 31:24; Ps 52:7; Pr 11:28
7Yet these cannot redeem a person # Or Certainly he cannot redeem himself, or Yet he cannot redeem a brother
or pay his ransom to God # Jb 36:18-19; Mt 25:8-9 —
8since the price of redeeming him is too costly,
one should forever stop trying # Or costly, it will cease forever # Mt 16:26 —
9so that he may live forever
and not see the Pit. # Jb 33:28; Ps 16:10
10For one can see that wise men die;
foolish and stupid men also pass away. # Ec 2:16
Then they leave their wealth to others. # Ps 39:6; Ec 2:18-19; Lk 12:20
11Their graves are their eternal homes, # LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads Their inner thought is that their houses are eternal
their homes from generation to generation,
though they have named estates after themselves. # Ps 5:9; 10:6
12But despite his assets, # Or honor man will not last;
he is like the animals that perish. # Ec 3:19
13This is the way of those who are arrogant,
and of their followers,
who approve of their words. # Lit and after them with their mouth they were pleased # Ps 31:23; Pr 16:18; 21:24Selah
14Like sheep they are headed for Sheol;
Death will shepherd them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning, # Rv 2:26
and their form will waste away in Sheol, # Hb obscure
far from their lofty abode. # Jb 24:19; Ps 9:17
15But God will redeem my life
from the power of Sheol,
for He will take me. # Ps 16:10; 56:13; Hs 13:14Selah
16Do not be afraid when a man gets rich,
when the wealth # Or glory of his house increases. # Ps 37:7
17For when he dies, he will take nothing at all;
his wealth # Or glory will not follow him down. # Jb 27:19; Ps 17:14; 1Tm 6:7
18Though he praises himself during his lifetime —
and people praise you when you do well for yourself # Dt 29:19; Ps 10:3,6 —
19he will go to the generation of his fathers;
they will never see the light. # Gn 15:15; Jb 33:30; Ps 56:13
20A man with valuable possessions # Or with honor
but without understanding
is like the animals that perish. # Ec 3:19
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