Psalm 49

Misplaced Trust in Wealth

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

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 49:2 Lit both sons of Adam and sons of man
  2. Psalm 49:7 Or Certainly he cannot redeem himself, or Yet he cannot redeem a brother
  3. Psalm 49:8 Or costly, it will cease forever

Psalm 49[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Hear(A) this, all you peoples;(B)
    listen, all who live in this world,(C)
both low and high,(D)
    rich and poor alike:
My mouth will speak words of wisdom;(E)
    the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.(F)
I will turn my ear to a proverb;(G)
    with the harp(H) I will expound my riddle:(I)

Why should I fear(J) when evil days come,
    when wicked deceivers surround me—
those who trust in their wealth(K)
    and boast(L) of their great riches?(M)
No one can redeem the life of another
    or give to God a ransom for them—
the ransom(N) for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough—(O)
so that they should live on(P) forever
    and not see decay.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 49:1 In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.