Psalms 49

Psalm 49

The Folly of Trust in Riches

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

give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

2both low and high,

rich and poor together.

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

the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

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

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

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

when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,

6those who trust in their wealth[#Job 31.24]

and boast of the abundance of their riches?

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

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

8For the ransom of life is costly[#Mt 16.26]

and can never suffice,

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

and never see the Pit.

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

fool and dolt perish together

and leave their wealth to others.

11Their graves are their homes forever,[#Deut 3.14; Ps 10.6; 64.6; #49.11 Gk Syr Compare Tg: Heb their inward thought]

their dwelling places to all generations,

though they named lands their own.

12Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;[#v 20]

they are like the animals that perish.

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

the end of those who are pleased with their lot. Selah

14Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;[#Job 24.19; Ps 9.17; Dan 7.18; 1 Cor 6.2]

Death shall be their shepherd;

straight to the grave they descend,

and their form shall waste away;

Sheol shall be their home.

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

for he will receive me. Selah

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

when the wealth of their houses increases.

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

their wealth will not go down after them.

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

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

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

who will never again see the light.

20Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;[#v 12]

they are like the animals that perish.

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Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ