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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Psalms 49: GW
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission 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 with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. 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.