16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendour of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die,
    their splendour will not descend with them.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed –
    and people praise you when you prosper –
19 they will join those who have gone before them,
    who will never again see the light of life.

20 People who have wealth but lack understanding
    are like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 50

A psalm of Asaph.

The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
    God shines forth.
Our God comes
    and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
    and around him a tempest rages.
He summons the heavens above,
    and the earth, that he may judge his people:
‘Gather to me this consecrated people,
    who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’
And the heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    for he is a God of justice.[a][b]

‘Listen, my people, and I will speak;
    I will testify against you, Israel:
    I am God, your God.
I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
    or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
I have no need of a bull from your stall
    or of goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields are mine.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 50:6 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text for God himself is judge
  2. Psalm 50:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing(A) with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.(B)
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—(C)
    and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,(D)
    who will never again see the light(E) of life.

20 People who have wealth but lack understanding(F)
    are like the beasts that perish.(G)

Psalm 50

A psalm of Asaph.

The Mighty One, God, the Lord,(H)
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to where it sets.(I)
From Zion,(J) perfect in beauty,(K)
    God shines forth.(L)
Our God comes(M)
    and will not be silent;(N)
a fire devours(O) before him,(P)
    and around him a tempest(Q) rages.
He summons the heavens above,
    and the earth,(R) that he may judge his people:(S)
“Gather to me this consecrated people,(T)
    who made a covenant(U) with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim(V) his righteousness,
    for he is a God of justice.[a][b](W)

“Listen, my people, and I will speak;
    I will testify(X) against you, Israel:
    I am God, your God.(Y)
I bring no charges(Z) against you concerning your sacrifices
    or concerning your burnt offerings,(AA) which are ever before me.
I have no need of a bull(AB) from your stall
    or of goats(AC) from your pens,(AD)
10 for every animal of the forest(AE) is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.(AF)
11 I know every bird(AG) in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields(AH) are mine.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 50:6 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text for God himself is judge
  2. Psalm 50:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.