Psalms 49:2-17
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 49
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. 12But man in his splendor will not endure; He is like the animals that perish. 13This is the way of those who are foolish, And of those after them who approve their words. Selah 14Like sheep they sink down to Sheol; Death will be their shepherd; And the upright will rule over them in the morning, And their form shall be for Sheol to consume So that they have no lofty home. 15But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah 16Do not be afraid when a person becomes rich, When the splendor of his house is increased; 17For when he dies, he will take nothing with him; His wealth will not descend after him.King James Version
Chapter 49
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.
12Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
14Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 49
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
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
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. 12Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. 13This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah 14Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell. 15But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah 16Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. 17For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.New International Version
Chapter 49
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.
12People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.
13This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
14They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.
15But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.
16Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;
17for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.
New King James Version
