Psalms 49
49
PSALM 49
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
To the chief Musician,
A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
1Hear this, all people, and give ear,
all in the world that dwell;
2Both low and high, both rich and poor.
3My mouth shall wisdom tell:
My heart shall knowledge meditate.
4I will incline mine ear
To parables, and on the harp
my sayings dark declare.
5Amidst those days that evil be,
why should I, fearing, doubt?
When of my heels th' iniquity
shall compass me about.
6Whoe'er they be that in their wealth
their confidence do pitch,
And boast themselves, because they are
become exceeding rich:
7Yet none of these his brother can
redeem by any way;
Nor can he unto God for him
sufficient ransom pay,
8(Their soul's redemption precious is,
and it can never be,)
9That still he should for ever live,
and not corruption see.
10For why? he seeth that wise men die,
and brutish fools also
Do perish; and their wealth, when dead,
to others they let go.
11Their inward thought is, that their house
and dwelling-places shall
Stand through all ages; they their lands
by their own names do call.
12But yet in honour shall not man
abide continually;
But passing hence, may be compar'd
unto the beasts that die.
13Thus brutish folly plainly is
their wisdom and their way;
Yet their posterity approve
what they do fondly say.
14Like sheep they in the grave are laid,
and death shall them devour;
And in the morning upright men
shall over them have pow'r:
Their beauty from their dwelling shall
consume within the grave.
15But from hell's hand God will me free,
for he shall me receive.
16Be thou not then afraid when one
enriched thou dost see,
Nor when the glory of his house
advanced is on high:
17For he shall carry nothing hence
when death his days doth end;
Nor shall his glory after him
into the grave descend.
18Although he his own soul did bless
whilst he on earth did live;
(And when thou to thyself dost well,
men will thee praises give;)
19He to his fathers' race shall go,
they never shall see light.
20Man honour'd wanting knowledge is
like beasts that perish quite.
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Psalms 49: MP1650
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 49
49
Psalm 49
The sons of Korah wrote this psalm for the music leader.
Riches cannot save you
1Listen to this, people from every nation.
Yes, listen carefully,
everyone who lives in this world!
2All people must listen, whoever you are,
whether you are rich people or poor people.
3I will speak wise words to you.
When you know my thoughts,
you will understand things better.
4I have studied proverbs.
I explain what they mean
as I make music on my harp.
5When trouble comes,
why am I afraid?
When cruel people are all round me,
and they want to hurt me,
why am I afraid?
6Those people think that their money will keep them safe.
They are proud about their riches.
7Nobody can pay the price to save another person.
Nobody can pay God the price for their life.
8A human life costs too much to buy it back.
Nobody could ever pay enough.
9So nobody can live for ever.
Everyone goes to their grave one day.
10Surely you see that even wise people die,
in the way that fools and stupid people also die.
Then their money will belong to someone else.
11Their graves will be their homes for ever.
They had their own land,
which was called by their name,
12but people do not live for ever,
even if they are very rich.
They will die, just like the animals.
13The same thing will happen to fools,
and to those who copy their way of life.
Selah.
14They will follow one another like sheep.
Death will be their shepherd
that leads them into their graves.
But when the day arrives,
righteous people will rule over them.
They will no longer live in their great houses,
but death will destroy their bodies in their graves.
15But God will save my life from the power of death.
He will take me to a safe place with him.
Selah.
16If somebody becomes rich
and he has more and more things,
do not be afraid! #49:16 This is the answer to the question in verse 5. There is no need to be afraid of rich people. They may do bad things to us, they may rob us, they may even hurt us, but their money cannot buy life.
17He cannot take anything with him when he dies.
His riches cannot go with him into death.
18While he lived, he was happy with his life.
He thought, ‘People will praise me,
because I am rich.’
19But he will join his ancestors in death.
He will never see the light of day again.
20Rich people do not always understand the truth.
They will die, just like the animals.
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