Psalm 49:5-50:15

English Standard Version

^5 (A)Why should I fear in ^(B)times of trouble,
    when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
⁶ those who ^(C)trust in their wealth
    and boast of the abundance of their riches?
⁷ Truly no man ^(D)can ransom another,
    or ^(E)give to God ^(F)the price of his life,
⁸ for ^(G)the ransom of their life is costly
    and can never suffice,
⁹ that he should live on forever
    and ^(H)never see the pit.

¹⁰ For he sees ^(I)that even the wise die;
    ^(J)the fool and the stupid alike must perish
    and ^(K)leave their wealth to others.
¹¹ Their ^(L)graves are their homes forever,^[a]
    their dwelling places ^(M)to all generations,
    though they ^(N)called lands by their own names.
¹² Man in his pomp ^(O)will not remain;
    ^(P)he is like the beasts that perish.

¹³ This is the path of those who have ^(Q)foolish confidence;
    yet after them people approve of their boasts.^[b] Selah
¹⁴ Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
    death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright ^(R)shall rule over them in the morning.
    ^(S)Their form shall be consumed ^(T)in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
¹⁵ But God will ^(U)ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
    for he will ^(V)receive me. Selah

¹⁶ Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
    when the glory of his house increases.
^17 (W)For when he dies he will ^(X)carry nothing away;
    his glory will not go down after him.
¹⁸ For though, while he lives, he counts himself ^(Y)blessed
    —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
¹⁹ his soul will ^(Z)go to the generation of his fathers,
    who will never again ^(AA)see light.
^20 (AB)Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

³ Our God comes; he ^(AH)does not keep silence;^[c]
    before him is a devouring ^(AI)fire,
    around him a mighty tempest.
^4 (AJ)He calls to the heavens above
    and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
⁵ “Gather to me my faithful ones,
    who made ^(AK)a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
^6 (AL)The heavens declare his righteousness,
    for ^(AM)God himself is judge! Selah

^7 (AN)“Hear, O my people, and I will speak;
    O Israel, I will testify against you.
    ^(AO)I am God, your God.
⁸ Not for your sacrifices ^(AP)do I rebuke you;
    your burnt offerings are continually before me.
⁹ I will not accept a bull from your house
    or goats from your folds.
¹⁰ For every beast of the forest is mine,
    the cattle on a thousand hills.
^11 (AQ)I know all the birds of the hills,
    and all that moves in the field is mine.

¹² “If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
    ^(AR)for the world and its fullness are mine.
¹³ Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?
^14 (AS)Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,^[d]
    and ^(AT)perform your vows to the Most High,
¹⁵ and ^(AU)call upon me in the day of trouble;
    I will ^(AV)deliver you, and you shall ^(AW)glorify me.”