Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options Listen to Psalm 49
Close NIV

Psalm 49
New International Version

Psalm 49[a]

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

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

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)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 49:1 In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.
  2. Psalm 49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain
  3. Psalm 49:11 Or generations, / for they have
  4. Psalm 49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.
Close MEV

Psalm 49
Modern English Version

Psalm 49

For the Music Director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 Hear this, all you people;
    give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high,
    rich and poor together.
3 My mouth will speak wisdom,
    and the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a parable;
    I will expound my riddle with a harp.

5 Why should I fear in the days of evil,
    when the iniquity of my stalkers surrounds me?
6 Those who trust in their wealth,
    and boast in the multitude of their riches,
7 none of them can by any means redeem the other,
    nor give to God a ransom for anyone,
8 for the redemption of their souls is costly;
    even so people cease to exist forever,
9 making efforts to live eternally,
    and not see the pit.
10 For one sees that wise men die,
    together the fool and the brute perish,
    and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves become their perpetual homes,
    and their dwelling places to all generations,
    though they call their lands after their own names.

12 But a man does not abide in honor;
    mankind is like the beasts that come to ruin.

13 This is their way, it is their folly;
    yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
    Death shall be their shepherd;
the upright shall rule over them in the morning,
    and their form shall waste away in Sheol,
    far from their dwelling.
15 But God shall redeem my soul from the power of Sheol,
    for He shall receive me. Selah
16 Do not fear when one is made rich,
    when the glory of his house is increased,
17 for he takes nothing away in death;
    his glory does not descend after him.
18 Though while he lives he blesses his soul—
    and men will praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 that soul will go to the generation of his fathers;
    they will never see light.

20 A man in honor, and yet without understanding,
    is like the animals that perish.

Listen to Psalm 49
Close NKJV

Psalm 49
New King James Version

The Confidence of the Foolish

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

49 Hear this, all peoples;
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high,
Rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will disclose my [a]dark saying on the harp.

5 Why should I fear in the days of evil,
When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
6 Those who (A)trust in their wealth
And boast in the multitude of their riches,
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
Nor (B)give to God a ransom for him—
8 For (C)the redemption of their souls is costly,
And it shall cease forever—
9 That he should continue to live eternally,
And (D)not [b]see the Pit.

10 For he sees wise men die;
Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish,
And leave their wealth to others.
11 [c]Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever,
Their dwelling places to all generations;
They (E)call their lands after their own names.
12 Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not [d]remain;
He is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the way of those who are (F)foolish,
And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah
14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave;
Death shall feed on them;
(G)The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;
(H)And their beauty shall be consumed in [e]the grave, far from their dwelling.
15 But God (I)will redeem my soul from the power of [f]the grave,
For He shall (J)receive me. Selah

16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,
When the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;
His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lives (K)he blesses himself
(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never see (L)light.[g]
20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,
(M)Is like the beasts that perish.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 49:4 riddle
  2. Psalm 49:9 experience corruption
  3. Psalm 49:11 LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg. Their graves shall be their houses forever
  4. Psalm 49:12 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Syr., Vg. understand (cf. v. 20)
  5. Psalm 49:14 Or Sheol
  6. Psalm 49:15 Or Sheol
  7. Psalm 49:19 The light of life
Close LSG

Psaumes 49
Louis Segond

49 (49:1) Au chef des chantres. Des fils de Koré. Psaume. (49:2) Écoutez ceci, vous tous, peuples, Prêtez l'oreille, vous tous, habitants du monde,

2 (49:3) Petits et grands, Riches et pauvres!

3 (49:4) Ma bouche va faire entendre des paroles sages, Et mon coeur a des pensées pleines de sens.

4 (49:5) Je prête l'oreille aux sentences qui me sont inspirées, J'ouvre mon chant au son de la harpe.

5 (49:6) Pourquoi craindrais-je aux jours du malheur, Lorsque l'iniquité de mes adversaires m'enveloppe?

6 (49:7) Ils ont confiance en leurs biens, Et se glorifient de leur grande richesse.

7 (49:8) Ils ne peuvent se racheter l'un l'autre, Ni donner à Dieu le prix du rachat.

8 (49:9) Le rachat de leur âme est cher, Et n'aura jamais lieu;

9 (49:10) Ils ne vivront pas toujours, Ils n'éviteront pas la vue de la fosse.

10 (49:11) Car ils la verront: les sages meurent, L'insensé et le stupide périssent également, Et ils laissent à d'autres leurs biens.

11 (49:12) Ils s'imaginent que leurs maisons seront éternelles, Que leurs demeures subsisteront d'âge en âge, Eux dont les noms sont honorés sur la terre.

12 (49:13) Mais l'homme qui est en honneur n'a point de durée, Il est semblable aux bêtes que l'on égorge.

13 (49:14) Telle est leur voie, leur folie, Et ceux qui les suivent se plaisent à leurs discours. -Pause.

14 (49:15) Comme un troupeau, ils sont mis dans le séjour des morts, La mort en fait sa pâture; Et bientôt les hommes droits les foulent aux pieds, Leur beauté s'évanouit, le séjour des morts est leur demeure.

15 (49:16) Mais Dieu sauvera mon âme du séjour des morts, Car il me prendra sous sa protection. -Pause.

16 (49:17) Ne sois pas dans la crainte parce qu'un homme s'enrichit, Parce que les trésors de sa maison se multiplient;

17 (49:18) Car il n'emporte rien en mourant, Ses trésors ne descendent point après lui.

18 (49:19) Il aura beau s'estimer heureux pendant sa vie, On aura beau te louer des jouissances que tu te donnes,

19 (49:20) Tu iras néanmoins au séjour de tes pères, Qui jamais ne reverront la lumière.

20 (49:21) L'homme qui est en honneur, et qui n'a pas d'intelligence, Est semblable aux bêtes que l'on égorge.

Next
Psalm 48
Psalm 50
Next
dropdown
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV

Modern English Version (MEV)

The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Learn the Bible in 30 days
Louis Segond (LSG)

by Public Domain