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
For the Chief Musician; a Psalm of the sons of Korah.
1Hear this, all ye peoples;
Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
2Both low and high,
Rich and poor together.
3My mouth shall speak wisdom;
And the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4I will incline mine ear to a parable:
I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil,
When iniquity at my heels compasseth me about?
6They that trust in their wealth,
And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
Nor give to God a ransom for him:
8(For the redemption of their soul is costly,
And must be let alone for ever:)
9That he should still live alway,
That he should not see corruption.
10For he seeth that wise men die,
The fool and the brutish together perish,
And leave their wealth to others.
11Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever,
And their dwelling places to all generations;
They call their lands after their own names.
12But man abideth not in honour:
He is like the beasts that perish.
13This their way is their folly:
Yet after them men approve their sayings. Selah
14They are appointed as a flock for Sheol;
Death shall be their shepherd:
And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;
And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for it.
15But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol:
For he shall receive me. Selah
16Be not thou afraid when one is made rich,
When the glory of his house is increased:
17For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away;
His glory shall not descend after him.
18Though while he lived he blessed his soul,
And men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself,
19He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never see the light.
20Man that is in honour, and understandeth not,
Is like the beasts that perish.
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