Psalm 49 – read and compare multiple versions
Psalms 49
[1]
Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
[2] both low and high,
rich and poor together.
[3] My mouth will speak words of wisdom.
My heart will utter understanding.
[4] I will incline my ear to a proverb.
I will solve my riddle on the harp.
[5] Why should I fear in the days of evil,
when iniquity at my heels 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 his brother,
nor give God a ransom for him.
[8] For the redemption of their life is costly,
no payment is ever enough,
[9] that he should live on forever,
that he should not see corruption.
[10] For he sees that wise men die;
likewise the fool and the senseless perish,
and leave their wealth to others.
[11] Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever,
and their dwelling places to all generations.
They name their lands after themselves.
[12] But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure.
He is like the animals that perish. [13] This is the destiny of those who are foolish,
and of those who approve their sayings.
Selah. [14] They are appointed as a flock for Sheol.
Death shall be their shepherd.
The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning.
Their beauty shall decay in Sheol,
far from their mansion.
[15] But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me.
Selah. [16] Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich,
when the glory of his house is increased;
[17] for when he dies he will carry nothing away.
His glory won’t descend after him.
[18] Though while he lived he blessed his soul—
and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
[19] he shall go to the generation of his fathers.
They shall never see the light.
[20] A man who has riches without understanding,
is like the animals that perish.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
Hear this, all you peoples.Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
[2] both low and high,
rich and poor together.
[3] My mouth will speak words of wisdom.
My heart will utter understanding.
[4] I will incline my ear to a proverb.
I will solve my riddle on the harp.
[5] Why should I fear in the days of evil,
when iniquity at my heels 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 his brother,
nor give God a ransom for him.
[8] For the redemption of their life is costly,
no payment is ever enough,
[9] that he should live on forever,
that he should not see corruption.
[10] For he sees that wise men die;
likewise the fool and the senseless perish,
and leave their wealth to others.
[11] Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever,
and their dwelling places to all generations.
They name their lands after themselves.
[12] But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure.
He is like the animals that perish. [13] This is the destiny of those who are foolish,
and of those who approve their sayings.
Selah. [14] They are appointed as a flock for Sheol.
Death shall be their shepherd.
The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning.
Their beauty shall decay in Sheol,
far from their mansion.
[15] But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me.
Selah. [16] Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich,
when the glory of his house is increased;
[17] for when he dies he will carry nothing away.
His glory won’t descend after him.
[18] Though while he lived he blessed his soul—
and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
[19] he shall go to the generation of his fathers.
They shall never see the light.
[20] A man who has riches without understanding,
is like the animals that perish.