Psalms 49

Psalm 49

The Folly of Trust in Riches

To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.

1 # Ps 33.8; 78.1 Hear this, all you peoples;

give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

2both low and high,

rich and poor together.

3 # Ps 37.30; 119.130 My mouth shall speak wisdom;

the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

4 # Num 12.8; Ps 78.2 I will incline my ear to a proverb;

I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.

5 # Ps 23.4 Why should I fear in times of trouble,

when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,

6 # Job 31.24 those who trust in their wealth

and boast of the abundance of their riches?

7 # Job 36.18; Mt 25.8, 9 Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life;#49.7 Or no one can ransom a brother

there is no price one can give to God for it.

8 # Mt 16.26 For the ransom of life is costly

and can never suffice,

9 # Ps 22.29; 89.48 that one should live on forever

and never see the Pit.

10 # Eccl 2.16, 18 When we look at the wise, they die;

fool and dolt perish together

and leave their wealth to others.

11 # Deut 3.14; Ps 10.6; 64.6 Their 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.

12 # v 20 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;

they are like the animals that perish.

13 # Lk 12.20 Such is the fate of the foolhardy,

the end of those#49.13 Tg: Heb after them who are pleased with their lot. Selah

14 # Job 24.19; Ps 9.17; Dan 7.18; 1 Cor 6.2 Like 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

15 # Ps 56.13; 73.24 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,

for he will receive me. Selah

16 # Ps 37.7 Do not be afraid when some become rich,

when the wealth of their houses increases.

17 # Ps 17.14 For when they die they will carry nothing away;

their wealth will not go down after them.

18 # Lk 12.19 Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy

—for you are praised when you do well for yourself—

19 # Gen 15.15; Job 33.30 they#49.19 Cn: Heb you will go to the company of their ancestors,

who will never again see the light.

20 # v 12 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;

they are like the animals that perish.

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Psalms 49: NRSVUE

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