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Psalm 49
New Life Version
Psalm 49
New Life Version
A Fool Trusts in Riches
49 Hear this, all people. Listen, all who live in the world, 2 both small and great, rich and poor together. 3 My mouth will speak wisdom. And the thoughts of my heart will be understanding. 4 I will turn my ear to a wise saying. With a harp, I will tell what is hard to understand.
5 Why should I be afraid in the days of trouble, when the sin of those who hate me is all around me? 6 They trust in their riches, and are proud of all they have. 7 No man can save his brother. No man can pay God enough to save him. 8 The cost is much for his soul to be saved. Man should stop trying 9 to live forever and not see the grave.
10 For he sees that even wise men die. The fool and those who cannot think well die alike. And they leave their riches to others. 11 They think in their hearts that their houses will last forever, and that the places where they live will last for all their children to follow. They have used their own names to name their lands. 12 But man with all his honor does not last. He is like the animals that die.
13 This is the way of the foolish, and of those after them who believe in their words. 14 Like sheep they are meant for the grave. Death will be their shepherd. And those who are right with God will rule over them in the morning. Their bodies will be eaten by the grave, so that they have no place to stay. 15 But God will free my soul from the power of the grave. For He will take me to Himself.
16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and when his house grows in greatness. 17 For when he dies he will take nothing with him. His greatness will not go down with him. 18 Even if while he lives, he thinks good of himself, and even though men praise you when you do well for yourself, 19 he will go and join the family of his fathers. They will never see the light. 20 Man with all his honor, yet without understanding, is like the animals that die.
Psalm 49
New International Version
Psalm 49
New International Version
Psalm 49[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Hear(A) this, all you peoples;(B)
listen, all who live in this world,(C)
2 both low and high,(D)
rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;(E)
the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.(F)
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb;(G)
with the harp(H) I will expound my riddle:(I)
5 Why should I fear(J) when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me—
6 those who trust in their wealth(K)
and boast(L) of their great riches?(M)
7 No one can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for them—
8 the ransom(N) for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough—(O)
9 so that they should live on(P) forever
and not see decay.(Q)
10 For all can see that the wise die,(R)
that the foolish and the senseless(S) also perish,
leaving their wealth(T) to others.(U)
11 Their tombs(V) will remain their houses[b] forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,(W)
though they had[c] named(X) lands after themselves.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,(AA)
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[d]
14 They are like sheep and are destined(AB) to die;(AC)
death will be their shepherd
(but the upright will prevail(AD) over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;(AE)
he will surely take me to himself.(AF)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing(AG) with them when they die,
their splendor will not descend with them.(AH)
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—(AI)
and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,(AJ)
who will never again see the light(AK) of life.
Footnotes
- Psalm 49:1 In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.
- Psalm 49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain
- Psalm 49:11 Or generations, / for they have
- Psalm 49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.
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