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.
Currently Selected:
Psalms 49: TPT
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Passion Translation® is a registered trademark of Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 49
49
Psalm 49
The Foolishness of Trusting in Riches.
For the music director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
1Hear this, all peoples;
Listen, all inhabitants of the world,
2Both low and high,
Rich and poor together.
3My mouth will speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
4I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will #49:4 Lit open upexpress my riddle on the harp.
5¶Why should I fear in days of adversity,
When the injustice of those who betray me surrounds me,
6Those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the abundance of their riches?
7No one can by any means redeem another
Or give God a ransom for him—
8For the redemption of #49:8 Lit theirhis soul is priceless,
And he should cease imagining forever—
9That he might live on eternally,
That he might not #49:9 Or see corruption; lit see the pitundergo decay.
10¶For he sees that even wise people die;
The foolish and the stupid alike perish
And leave their wealth to others.
11Their #49:11 Some ancient versions graves are their housesinner thought is that their houses are forever
And their dwelling places to all generations;
They have named their lands after their own names.
12But man in his splendor will not endure;
He is like the animals that #49:12 Lit are destroyedperish.
13¶This is the way of those who are foolish,
And of those after them who approve their words. Selah
14Like sheep they sink down to #49:14 I.e., the netherworldSheol;
Death will be their shepherd;
And the upright will rule over them in the morning,
And their form shall be for #49:14 I.e., the netherworldSheol to consume
# 49:14 Lit Away from his habitation So that they have no lofty home.
15But God will redeem my soul from the #49:15 Lit handpower of #49:15 I.e., the netherworldSheol,
For He will receive me. Selah
16¶Do not be afraid when a person becomes rich,
When the splendor of his house is increased;
17For when he dies, he will take nothing with him;
His #49:17 Lit glorywealth will not descend after him.
18Though while he lives he congratulates #49:18 Lit his soulhimself—
And though people praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 # 49:19 Lit You; or It He will go to the generation of his fathers;
They will never see the light.
20Mankind in its splendor, yet without understanding,
Is like the animals that #49:20 Lit are destroyedperish.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE® NASB®
Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977,1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation
A Corporation Not for Profit
La Habra, CA
All Rights Reserved
www.lockman.org