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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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 49
49
For the music director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
1Listen to this, everyone! Pay attention, people of the world—
2whether you are highborn or lowborn, rich or poor!
3For what I say is wise, and my thinking is perceptive.
4I pay attention to wise sayings; I answer hard questions to a tune on the harp.
5Why should I be afraid when trouble comes, when evil enemies surround me?
6They trust in their wealth; they boast about their riches,
7but no one can pay to rescue another from death; no one can pay a ransom to God.
8Redemption is beyond price; no one could ever pay enough
9that they could live forever and not face the grave.
10Everyone knows that the wise die, those who are foolish and stupid too, leaving what they have to the next generation.
11They think#49:11. Some believe the word used here has been misspelled and translate it as “their graves.” their homes will last forever, that where they live will continue for all generations.
12But human beings, for all their fame, don't understand.#49:12. “Don't understand” or “don't last a night.” They die, just like the animals.
13This is the way of foolish people, yet those who come after them think they were clever!#49:13. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. Selah.
14Like sheep they are destined for the grave. Death will be their shepherd. Those who live right will rule over them in the morning.#49:14. The significance of this verse is not clear. Their bodies will decay in the grave, far from their homes.
15But surely God will rescue me from the power of the grave; he will grab me back. Selah.
16Don't be disturbed when people become rich, filling their houses with possessions.
17For they won't take anything with them when they die; their wealth will not go down into the grave#49:17. “Into the grave” implied. with them.
18They congratulate themselves for all they possess—people always praise you when you do well—
19but their destiny is the same as their forefathers: they will never again see the light of day.
20Human beings, for all their fame, don't understand, and they die, just like the animals.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com