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.
Psalm 49
49
Psalm 49
For the director of music. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1Hear this, all you nations.
Listen, all you who live in this world.
2Listen, people, whether you are ordinary or important.
Listen, people, whether you are rich or poor.
3My mouth will speak wise words.
What I think about in my heart will give you understanding.
4I will pay attention to a proverb.
I will explain my riddle as I play the harp.
5Why should I be afraid when trouble comes?
Why should I fear when sinners are all around me?
They are the kind of people who want to take advantage of me.
6They trust in their wealth.
They brag about how rich they are.
7No one can pay for the life of anyone else.
No one can give God what that would cost.
8The price for a life is very high.
No payment is ever enough.
9No one can pay enough to live forever
and not rot in the grave.
10Everyone can see that even wise people die.
People who are foolish and who have no sense also pass away.
All of them leave their wealth to others.
11Their tombs will remain their houses forever.
Their graves will be their homes for all time to come.
Naming lands after themselves won’t help either.
12Even though people may be very rich, they don’t live on and on.
They are like the animals. They die.
13That’s what happens to those who trust in themselves.
It also happens to their followers, who agree with what they say.
14They are like sheep and will end up in the grave.
Death will be their shepherd.
But when honest people come to power, a new day will dawn.
The bodies of sinners will waste away in the grave.
They will end up far away from their princely houses.
15But God will save me from the place of the dead.
He will certainly take me to himself.
16Don’t get too upset when other people become rich.
Don’t be troubled when they become more and more wealthy.
17They won’t take anything with them when they die.
Their riches won’t go down to the grave with them.
18While they lived, they believed they were blessed.
People praised them when things were going well for them.
19But they will die, like their people of long ago.
They will never again see the light of life.
20People who have riches but don’t understand
are like the animals. They die.
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