Menu
Bible Gateway Plus logo
Bible Gateway logo
account
Share feedback on the new Bible Gateway
Bible Gateway Plus logo
Bible Gateway logo
Share feedback on the new Bible Gateway
  • Read the Bible
    • Reading Plans
    • Advanced Search
    • Available Versions
    • Audio Bibles
  • Study Tools
    • Scripture Engagement
    • More Resources
  • Explorer More
    • Bible News
    • Newsletters
    • Devotionals
    • Bible Gateway App
    • Bible Audio App
    • Bible Gateway Blog
  • Store
    • Bibles
    • Deals
    • More
  • Bible Gateway Plus
CSBA
Version
Bible Books Bible Books
CSBA
Version
Read
Study
Explore
Store
Bible Gateway Plus
Light Mode Dark Mode
Font Size
Log In show menu
Previous Next
PrintPrintSettingsSettingsShareShareParallelParallelExpandExpandCollapse

Psalm 49  Christian Standard Bible Anglicised

Misplaced Trust in Wealth

For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

49 Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who inhabit the world,(A)
2 both low and high,
rich and poor together.(B)
3 My mouth speaks wisdom;
my heart’s meditation brings understanding.(C)
4 I turn my ear to a proverb;
I explain my riddle with a lyre.(D)

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble?
The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.(E)
6 They trust in their wealth
and boast of their abundant riches.(F)
7 Yet these cannot redeem a person[a]
or pay his ransom to God(G) –
8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly,
one should for ever stop trying[b](H) –
9 so that he may live for ever
and not see the Pit.(I)

10 For one can see that the wise die;
the foolish and stupid also pass away.(J)
Then they leave their wealth to others.(K)
11 Their graves are their permanent homes,[c]
their dwellings from generation to generation,
though they have named estates after themselves.(L)
12 But despite his assets,[d] mankind will not last;
he is like the animals that perish.(M)

13 This is the way of those who are arrogant,
and of their followers,
who approve of their words.[e](N) Selah
14 Like sheep they are headed for Sheol;
Death will shepherd them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning,(O)
and their form will waste away in Sheol,[f]
far from their lofty abode.(P)
15 But God will redeem me
from the power of Sheol,
for he will take me.(Q) Selah

16 Do not be afraid when a person gets rich,
when the wealth[g] of his house increases.(R)
17 For when he dies, he will take nothing at all;
his wealth will not follow him down.(S)
18 Though he blesses himself during his lifetime –
and you are acclaimed when you do well for yourself(T) –
19 he will go to the generation of his ancestors;
they will never see the light.(U)
20 Mankind, with his assets
but without understanding,
is like the animals that perish.(V)

Footnotes

  1. 49:7 Or Certainly he cannot redeem himself, or Yet he cannot redeem a brother
  2. 49:8 Or costly, it will cease for ever
  3. 49:11 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads Their inner thought is that their houses are eternal
  4. 49:12 Or honour
  5. 49:13 Lit and after them with their mouth they were pleased
  6. 49:14 Hb obscure
  7. 49:16 Or glory, also in v. 17

Cross references

  1. 49:1 : Ps 78:1; Mc 1:2
  2. 49:2 : Ps 62:9
  3. 49:3 : Ps 37:30
  4. 49:4 : Nm 12:8; Mt 13:35
  5. 49:5 : Ps 23:4; 27:1
  6. 49:6 : Jb 31:24; Ps 52:7; Pr 11:28
  7. 49:7 : Jb 36:18–19; Mt 25:8–9
  8. 49:8 : Mt 16:26
  9. 49:9 : Jb 33:28; Ps 16:10
  10. 49:10 : Ec 2:16
  11. 49:10 : Ps 39:6; Ec 2:18–19; Lk 12:20
  12. 49:11 : Ps 5:9; 10:6
  13. 49:12 : Ec 3:19
  14. 49:13 : Ps 31:23; Pr 16:18; 21:24
  15. 49:14 : Rv 2:26
  16. 49:14 : Jb 24:19; Ps 9:17
  17. 49:15 : Ps 16:10; 56:13; Hs 13:14
  18. 49:16 : Ps 37:7
  19. 49:17 : Jb 27:19; Ps 17:14; 1Tm 6:7
  20. 49:18 : Dt 29:19; Ps 10:3,6
  21. 49:19 : Gn 15:15; Jb 33:30; Ps 56:13
  22. 49:20 : Ec 3:19
Next
Psalm 48
Psalm 50
Next
dropdown
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised (CSBA)

Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers.

Bible Gateway Plus logo
Bible Gateway logo

Font Size

Font Size

Dark Mode

Light Mode Dark Mode

About

  • About
  • Learn About the Bible
  • Statement of Faith
  • Mobile App
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Newsroom
  • Support Us

Help

  • FAQs
  • Tutorials
  • Use Bible Gateway on Your Site
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • California Privacy Rights
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Site: Terms of use
  • Widget: Terms of use

Our Network

  • FaithGateway
  • StudyGateway
  • ChurchSource
  • HarperCollins Christian Publishing
  • Grupo Nelson
  • Editorial Vida
  • Thomas Nelson
  • WestBow Press
  • Zondervan
  • MasterLectures

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • X
  • YouTube

Preferences

  • Versión en español
  • Preferences
Sign Up for Bible Gateway: News & Knowledge
Get weekly Bible news, info, reflections, and deals in your inbox.

By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, operated by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, 501 Nelson Pl, Nashville, TN 37214 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateway’s emails at any time. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com.

Preferences

  • Versión en español
  • Preferences