Psalms 49
49
Wisdom Better Than Wealth
For the Pure and Shining One
A poetic song by the prophetic singers of Korah’s clan
1-2Listen, one and all!
Both rich and poor together, all over the world—
everyone listen to what I have to say!
3For wisdom will come from my mouth;
words of insight and understanding will be heard
from the musings of my heart.
4I will break open mysteries with my music,
and my song will release riddles solved.
5There’s no reason to fear when troubling times come,
even when you’re surrounded with problems
and persecutors who chase at your heels. # 49:5 This phrase contains a variant form of the name Jacob, which means “heel grabber.”
6-7They trust in their treasures and boast in their riches,
yet not one of them, though rich as a king,
could rescue his own brother from the guilt of his sins.
No one could give God the ransom price
for the soul of another, let alone for himself.
8-9A soul’s redemption is too costly and precious
for anyone to pay with earthly wealth.
The price to pay is never enough
to purchase eternal life for even one, to keep them out of hell.
10-11The brightest and best, along with the foolish and senseless,
God sees that they all will die one day,
leaving their houses and wealth to others.
Even though they name streets and lands after themselves, # 49:10–11 Or “They read their names in the ground.”
hoping to have their memory endure beyond the grave,
becoming legends in their own minds,
their home address is now the cemetery!
12The honor of man is short-lived and fleeting.
There’s little difference between man and beast,
for both will one day perish.
13Such is the path of foolish men
and those who quote everything they say,
for they are here today and gone tomorrow!
Pause in his presence
14A shepherd called “Death” herds them,
leading them straight to hell like mindless sheep.
Yet at daybreak you will find the righteous ruling in their place.
Every trace of them will be gone forever,
with all their “glory” lost in the darkness of their doom.
15But I know the loving God will redeem my soul,
raising me up from the dark power of death,
taking me as his bridal partner. # 49:15 Or “he will offer his hand to me in marriage.”
Pause in his presence
16So don’t be disturbed when you see the rich
surround you with the “glory” of their wealth on full display.
17For when they die, they will carry nothing with them,
and their riches will not follow them beyond the grave.
18-19Though they have the greatest rewards of this world
and all applaud them for their accomplishments,
they will follow those who have gone before them
and go straight into the realm of darkness,
where they will never ever see the light again.
20So this is the way of mortal man—
honored for a moment, yet without eternal insight,
like a beast that will one day perish.
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Psalms 49: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 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.