Psalm 49-52

New International Version

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.

¹² People, despite their wealth, do not endure;^(Y)
    they are like the beasts that perish.^(Z)

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.

²⁰ People who have wealth but lack understanding^(AL)
    are like the beasts that perish.^(AM)

⁷ “Listen, my people, and I will speak;
    I will testify^(BD) against you, Israel:
    I am God, your God.^(BE)
8 I bring no charges^(BF) against you concerning your sacrifices
    or concerning your burnt offerings,^(BG) which are ever before me.
⁹ I have no need of a bull^(BH) from your stall
    or of goats^(BI) from your pens,^(BJ)
10 for every animal of the forest^(BK) is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.^(BL)
11 I know every bird^(BM) in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields^(BN) are mine.
¹² If I were hungry I would not tell you,
    for the world^(BO) is mine, and all that is in it.^(BP)
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?

¹⁴ “Sacrifice thank offerings^(BQ) to God,
    fulfill your vows^(BR) to the Most High,^(BS)
15 and call^(BT) on me in the day of trouble;^(BU)
    I will deliver^(BV) you, and you will honor^(BW) me.”

“What right have you to recite my laws
    or take my covenant^(BX) on your lips?^(BY)
17 You hate^(BZ) my instruction
    and cast my words behind^(CA) you.
¹⁸ When you see a thief, you join^(CB) with him;
    you throw in your lot with adulterers.^(CC)
19 You use your mouth for evil
    and harness your tongue to deceit.^(CD)
20 You sit and testify against your brother^(CE)
    and slander your own mother’s son.
²¹ When you did these things and I kept silent,^(CF)
    you thought I was exactly^[g] like you.
But I now arraign^(CG) you
    and set my accusations^(CH) before you.

²² “Consider this, you who forget God,^(CI)
    or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:^(CJ)
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
    and to the blameless^[h] I will show my salvation.^(CK)”

³ For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.^(CT)
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned^(CU)
    and done what is evil in your sight;^(CV)
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.^(CW)
5 Surely I was sinful^(CX) at birth,^(CY)
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom^(CZ) in that secret place.^(DA)

⁷ Cleanse^(DB) me with hyssop,^(DC) and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.^(DD)
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;^(DE)
    let the bones^(DF) you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins^(DG)
    and blot out^(DH) all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart,^(DI) O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.^(DJ)
11 Do not cast me^(DK) from your presence^(DL)
    or take your Holy Spirit^(DM) from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation^(DN)
    and grant me a willing spirit,^(DO) to sustain me.^(DP)

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,^(DQ)
    so that sinners^(DR) will turn back to you.^(DS)
14 Deliver me^(DT) from the guilt of bloodshed,^(DU) O God,
    you who are God my Savior,^(DV)
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.^(DW)
15 Open my lips, Lord,^(DX)
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice,^(DY) or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice,^(DZ) O God, is^[j] a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart^(EA)
    you, God, will not despise.

¹⁸ May it please you to prosper Zion,^(EB)
    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.^(EC)
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,^(ED)
    in burnt offerings^(EE) offered whole;
    then bulls^(EF) will be offered on your altar.

⁵ Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:
    He will snatch you up and pluck^(EP) you from your tent;
    he will uproot^(EQ) you from the land of the living.^(ER)
6 The righteous will see and fear;
    they will laugh^(ES) at you, saying,
⁷ “Here now is the man
    who did not make God his stronghold^(ET)
but trusted in his great wealth^(EU)
    and grew strong by destroying others!”

⁸ But I am like an olive tree^(EV)
    flourishing in the house of God;
I trust^(EW) in God’s unfailing love
    for ever and ever.
⁹ For what you have done I will always praise you^(EX)
    in the presence of your faithful people.^(EY)
And I will hope in your name,^(EZ)
    for your name is good.^(FA)