Psalms 49

1A psalm for Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: and he hath called the earth. From the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof:

1 Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.

2Out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty.

2High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.

3God shall come manifestly: our God shall come, and shall not keep silence. A fire shall burn before him: and a mighty tempest shall be round about him.

3From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.

4He shall call heaven from above, and the earth, to judge his people.

4I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.

5Gather ye together his saints to him: who set his covenant before sacrifices.

5What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?

6And the heavens shall declare his justice: for God is judge.

6Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.

7Hear, O my people, and I will speak: O Israel, and I will testify to thee: I am God, thy God.

7Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;

8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices: and thy burnt offerings are always in my sight.

8(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)

9I will not take calves out of thy house: nor he goats out of thy flocks.

9So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.

10For all the beasts of the woods are mine: the cattle on the hills, and the oxen.

10For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.

11I know all the fowls of the air: and with me is the beauty of the field.

11The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.

12If I should be hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

12But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.

13Shall I eat the flesh of bullocks? or shall I drink the blood of goats?

13This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah.)

14Offer to God the sacrifice of praise: and pay thy vows to the most High.

14Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever.

15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

15But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.)

16But to the sinner God hath said: Why dost thou declare my justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth?

16Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;

17Seeing thou hast hated discipline: and hast cast my words behind thee.

17For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.

18If thou didst see a thief thou didst run with him: and with adulterers thou hast been a partaker.

18Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,

19Thy mouth hath abounded with evil, and thy tongue framed deceits.

19He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.

20Sitting thou didst speak against thy brother, and didst lay a scandal against thy mother's son:

20Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.

21These things hast thou done, and I was silent. Thou thoughtest unjustly that I should be like to thee: but I will reprove thee, and set before thy face.

21(not in this translation)

22Understand these things, you that forget God; lest he snatch you away, and there be none to deliver you.

22(not in this translation)

23The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me: and there is the way by which I will shew him the salvation of God.

23(not in this translation)