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
PSALM 49
To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.
1Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world: 2Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike. 3My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding: 4I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp. 5Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, when the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? —
6They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ... 7None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God#GodHebrew: Elohim a ransom for him, 8(For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever,) 9That he should still live perpetually, and not see corruption. 10For he seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they leave their wealth to others. 11Their inward thought is, that their houses are for ever, their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the lands after their own names. 12Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. 13This their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings. Selah. 14Like sheep are they laid in Sheol: Death feedeth on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their comeliness shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for them.
15But God#GodHebrew: Elohim will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol: for he will receive me. Selah. 16Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased: 17For when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him. 18Though he blessed his soul in his lifetime, — and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself, — 19It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light. 20Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.