Psalm 49–50

Psalm 49

The Confidence of the Foolish

To the Chief Musician. 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,

And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.

4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;

I will disclose my 1dark saying on the harp.

5 Why should I fear in the days of evil,

When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

6 Those who atrust in their wealth

And boast in the multitude of their riches,

7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother,

Nor bgive to God a ransom for him—

8 For cthe redemption of their souls is costly,

And it shall cease forever—

9 That he should continue to live eternally,

And dnot 2see the Pit.

10 For he sees wise men die;

Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish,

And leave their wealth to others.

11 3Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever,

Their dwelling places to all generations;

They ecall their lands after their own names.

12 Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not 4remain;

He is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the way of those who are ffoolish,

And of their posterity who approve their sayings.

Selah

14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave;

Death shall feed on them;

gThe upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;

hAnd their beauty shall be consumed in 5the grave, far from their dwelling.

15 But God iwill redeem my soul from the power of 6the grave,

For He shall jreceive me.

Selah

16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,

When the glory of his house is increased;

17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;

His glory shall not descend after him.

18 Though while he lives khe blesses himself

(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),

19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers;

They shall never see llight. 7

20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,

mIs like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 50

God the Righteous Judge

A Psalm of Asaph.

1 The aMighty One, God the Lord,

Has spoken and called the earth

From the rising of the sun to its going down.

2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,

bGod will shine forth.

3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent;

cA fire shall devour before Him,

And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.

4 dHe shall call to the heavens from above,

And to the earth, that He may judge His people:

5 “Gather eMy saints together to Me,

fThose who have 1made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

6 Let the gheavens declare His righteousness,

For hGod Himself is Judge.

Selah

7 “Hear, O My people, and I will speak,

O Israel, and I will testify against you;

iI am God, your God!

8 jI will not 2rebuke you kfor your sacrifices

Or your burnt offerings,

Which are continually before Me.

9 lI will not take a bull from your house,

Nor goats out of your folds.

10 For every beast of the forest is Mine,

And the cattle on a thousand hills.

11 I know all the birds of the mountains,

And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.

12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you;

mFor the world is Mine, and all its fullness.

13 nWill I eat the flesh of bulls,

Or drink the blood of goats?

14 oOffer to God thanksgiving,

And ppay your vows to the Most High.

15 qCall upon Me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

16 But to the wicked God says:

“What right have you to declare My statutes,

Or take My covenant in your mouth,

17 rSeeing you hate instruction

And cast My words behind you?

18 When you saw a thief, you sconsented 3with him,

And have been a tpartaker with adulterers.

19 You give your mouth to evil,

And uyour tongue frames deceit.

20 You sit and speak against your brother;

You slander your own mother’s son.

21 These things you have done, and I kept silent;

vYou thought that I was altogether like you;

But I will rebuke you,

And wset them in order before your eyes.

22 “Now consider this, you who xforget God,

Lest I tear you in pieces,

And there be none to deliver:

23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;

And yto him who orders his conduct aright

I will show the salvation of God.”