Psalm 49

HCSB

Psalm 49

Misplaced Trust in Wealth

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1} For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who inhabit the world,^(A)

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both low and high,^(a)
rich and poor together.^(B)

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My mouth speaks wisdom;
my heart’s meditation brings understanding.^(C)

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I turn my ear to a proverb;
I explain my riddle with a lyre.^(D)

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Why should I fear in times of trouble?
The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.^(E)

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They trust in their wealth
and boast of their abundant riches.^(F)

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Yet these cannot redeem a person^(b)
or pay his ransom to God^(G)—

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since the price of redeeming him is too costly,
one should forever stop trying^(c)^(H)—

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so that he may live forever
and not see the Pit.^(I)

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For one can see that wise men die;
foolish and stupid men also pass away.^(J)
Then they leave their wealth to others.^(K)

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Their graves are their eternal homes,^(d)
their homes from generation to generation,
though they have named estates after themselves.^(L)

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But despite his assets,^(e) man will not last;
he is like the animals that perish.^(M)

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This is the way of those who are arrogant,
and of their followers,
who approve of their words.^(f)^(N)Selah

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Like sheep they are headed for Sheol;
Death will shepherd them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning,^(O)
and their form will waste away in Sheol,^(g)
far from their lofty abode.^(P)

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But God will redeem my life
from the power of Sheol,
for He will take me.^(Q)Selah

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Do not be afraid when a man gets rich,
when the wealth^(h) of his house increases.^(R)

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For when he dies, he will take nothing at all;
his wealth⁽ⁱ⁾ will not follow him down.^(S)

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Though he praises himself during his lifetime—
and people praise you when you do well for yourself^(T)—

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he will go to the generation of his fathers;
they will never see the light.^(U)

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20}

A man with valuable possessions^(j)
but without understanding
is like the animals that perish.^(V)

Footnotes:

a. Psalm 49:2: Lit both sons of Adam and sons of man

b. Psalm 49:7: Or Certainly he cannot redeem himself, or Yet he cannot redeem a brother

c. Psalm 49:8: Or costly, it will cease forever

d. Psalm 49:11: LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads Their inner thought is that their houses are eternal

e. Psalm 49:12: Or honor

f. Psalm 49:13: Lit and after them with their mouth they were pleased

g. Psalm 49:14: Hb obscure

h. Psalm 49:16: Or glory

i. Psalm 49:17: Or glory

j. Psalm 49:20: Or with honor

Cross references:

A. Psalm 49:1: Psalm 78:1

B. Psalm 49:2: Psalm 62:9

C. Psalm 49:3: Psalm 37:30

D. Psalm 49:4: Numbers 12:8; Matthew 13:35

E. Psalm 49:5: Psalm 23:4; Psalm 27:1

F. Psalm 49:6: Job 31:24; Psalm 52:7; Proverbs 11:28

G. Psalm 49:7: Job 36:18-19; Matthew 25:8-9

H. Psalm 49:8: Matthew 16:26

I. Psalm 49:9: Job 33:28; Psalm 16:10

J. Psalm 49:10: Ecclesiastes 2:16

K. Psalm 49:10: Psalm 39:6; Ecclesiastes 2:18-19; Luke 12:20

L. Psalm 49:11: Psalm 5:9; Psalm 10:6

M. Psalm 49:12: Ecclesiastes 3:19

N. Psalm 49:13: Psalm 31:23; Proverbs 16:18; Proverbs 21:24

O. Psalm 49:14: Revelation 2:26

P. Psalm 49:14: Job 24:19; Psalm 9:17

Q. Psalm 49:15: Psalm 16:10; Psalm 56:13

R. Psalm 49:16: Psalm 37:7

S. Psalm 49:17: Job 27:19; Psalm 17:14

T. Psalm 49:18: Deuteronomy 29:19; Psalm 10:3; Psalm 10:6

U. Psalm 49:19: Genesis 15:15; Job 33:30; Psalm 56:13

V. Psalm 49:20: Ecclesiastes 3:19