Psalms 49:1-11
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 49
1Hear this, all peoples; Listen, all inhabitants of the world, 2Both low and high, Rich and poor together. 3My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be understanding. 4I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp. 5Why should I fear in days of adversity, When the injustice of those who betray me surrounds me, 6Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches? 7No one can by any means redeem another Or give God a ransom for him— 8For the redemption of his soul is priceless, And he should cease imagining forever— 9That he might live on eternally, That he might not undergo decay. 10For he sees that even wise people die; The foolish and the stupid alike perish And leave their wealth to others. 11Their inner thought is that their houses are forever And their dwelling places to all generations; They have named their lands after their own names.King James Version
Chapter 49
1{To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.} Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: 2Both low and high, rich and poor, together. 3My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. 4I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp. 5Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
9That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
10For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 49
1Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit the world, 2both low and high, rich and poor together. 3My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart's meditation brings understanding.
4I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle with a lyre.
5Why should I fear in times of trouble? The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.
6They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches.
7Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God --
8since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should forever stop trying --
9so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.
10For one can see that the wise die; the foolish and stupid also pass away. Then they leave their wealth to others.
11Their graves are their permanent homes, their dwellings from generation to generation, though they have named estates after themselves.
New Living Translation
Chapter 49
1Listen to this, all you people! Pay attention, everyone in the world! 2High and low, rich and poor — listen! 3For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight. 4I listen carefully to many proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.
5Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me?
6They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches.
7Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.
8Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough
9to live forever and never see the grave.
English Standard Version
Chapter 49
1To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 2both low and high, rich and poor together! 3My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. 4I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. 5Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, 6those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? 7Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, 8for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, 9that he should live on forever and never see the pit. 10For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. 11Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names.New International Version
Chapter 49
1For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, 2both low and high, rich and poor alike: 3My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
4I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me--
6those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
7No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them--
8the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough--
9so that they should live on forever and not see decay.
10For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
New King James Version