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
The Folly of Trust in Riches
To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.
1Hear this, all you peoples;
give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2both low and high,
rich and poor together.
3My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
5Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
6those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7Truly, no ransom avails for one's life,#49.7 Another reading is no one can ransom a brother
there is no price one can give to God for it.
8For the ransom of life is costly,
and can never suffice
9that one should live on forever
and never see the grave.#49.9 Heb the pit
10When we look at the wise, they die;
fool and dolt perish together
and leave their wealth to others.
11Their graves#49.11 Gk Syr Compare Tg: Heb their inward (thought) are their homes forever,
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they named lands their own.
12Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
they are like the animals that perish.
13Such is the fate of the foolhardy,
the end of those#49.13 Tg: Heb after them who are pleased with their lot. Selah
14Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
Death shall be their shepherd;
straight to the grave they descend,#49.14 Cn: Heb the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning
and their form shall waste away;
Sheol shall be their home.#49.14 Meaning of Heb uncertain
15But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah
16Do not be afraid when some become rich,
when the wealth of their houses increases.
17For when they die they will carry nothing away;
their wealth will not go down after them.
18Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy
—for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
19they#49.19 Cn: Heb you will go to the company of their ancestors,
who will never again see the light.
20Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
they are like the animals that perish.
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.