PSALM 49

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

1 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;

the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;

I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble,

when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,

6 men who trust in their wealth

and boast of the abundance of their riches?

7 Truly no man can ransom himself,o

or give to God the price of his life,

8 for the ransom of hisp life is costly,

and can never suffice,

9 that he should continue to live on for ever,

and never see the Pit.

10 Yea, he shall see that even the wise die,

the fool and the stupid alike must perish

and leave their wealth to others.

11 Their gravesq are their homes for ever,

their dwelling places to all generations,

though they named lands their own.

12 Man cannot abide in his pomp,

he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the fate of thoser who have foolish confidence,

the end of those who are pleased with their portion. [Selah]

14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;

Death shall be their shepherd;

straight to the grave they descend,s

and their form shall waste away;

Sheol shall be their home.t

15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,

for he will receive me. [Selah]

16 Be not afraid when one becomes rich,

when the gloryu of his house increases.

17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away;

his gloryu will not go down after him.

18 Though, while he lives, he counts himself happy,

and though a man gets praise when he does well for himself,

19 he will go to the generation of his fathers,

who will never more see the light.

20 Man cannot abide in his pomp,

he is like the beasts that perish.

PSALM 20

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord answer you in the day of trouble!

The name of the God of Jacob protect you!

2 May he send you help from the sanctuary,

and give you support from Zion!

3 May he remember all your offerings,

and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! [Selah]

4 May he grant you your heart’s desire,

and fulfil all your plans!

5 May we shout for joy over your victory,

and in the name of our God set up our banners!

May the Lord fulfil all your petitions!

6 Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed;

he will answer him from his holy heaven

with mighty victories by his right hand.

7 Some boast of chariots, and some of horses;

but we boast of the name of the Lord our God.

8 They will collapse and fall;

but we shall rise and stand upright.

9 Give victory to the king, O Lord;

answer us when we call.l

PSALM 21

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 In thy strength the king rejoices, O Lord;

and in thy help how greatly he exults!

2 Thou hast given him his heart’s desire,

and hast not withheld the request of his lips. [Selah]

3 For thou dost meet him with goodly blessings;

thou dost set a crown of fine gold upon his head.

4 He asked life of thee; thou gavest it to him,

length of days for ever and ever.

5 His glory is great through thy help;

splendor and majesty thou dost bestow upon him.

6 Yea, thou dost make him most blessed for ever;

thou dost make him glad with the joy of thy presence.

7 For the king trusts in the Lord;

and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

8 Your hand will find out all your enemies;

your right hand will find out those who hate you.

9 You will make them as a blazing oven

when you appear.

The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath;

and fire will consume them.

10 You will destroy their offspring from the earth,

and their children from among the sons of men.

11 If they plan evil against you,

if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.

12 For you will put them to flight;

you will aim at their faces with your bows.

13 Be exalted, O Lord, in thy strength!

We will sing and praise thy power.