Psalms 49; Psalms 50

1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit the world,

2 both low and high, rich and poor together.

3 My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart's meditation [brings] understanding.

4 I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle with a lyre.

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble? The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.

6 They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches.

7 Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God-

8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should forever stop trying-

9 so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.

10 For one can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless also pass away. Then they leave their wealth to others.

11 Their graves are their eternal homes, their homes from generation to generation, though they have named estates after themselves.

12 But despite [his] assets, man will not last; he is like the animals that perish.

13 This is the way of those who are arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words. Selah

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

15 But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol, for He will take me. Selah

16 Do not be afraid when a man gets rich, when the wealth of his house increases.

17 For when he dies, he will take nothing at all; his wealth will not follow him down.

18 Though he praises himself during his lifetime- and people praise you when you do well for yourself-

19 he will go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light.

20 A man with valuable possessions but without understanding is like the animals that perish.

1 God, the Lord God speaks; He summons the earth from east to west.

2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God appears in radiance.

3 Our God is coming; He will not be silent! Devouring fire precedes Him, and a storm rages around Him.

4 On high, He summons heaven and earth in order to judge His people.

5 "Gather My faithful ones to Me, those who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice."

6 The heavens proclaim His righteousness, for God is the judge. Selah

7 "Listen, My people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel. I am God, your God.

8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or for your burnt offerings, which are continually before Me.

9 I will not accept a bull from your household or male goats from your pens,

10 for every animal of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.

11 I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine.

12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is Mine.

13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and pay your vows to the Most High.

15 Call on Me in a day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor Me."

16 But God says to the wicked: "What right do you have to recite My statutes and to take My covenant on your lips?

17 You hate instruction and turn your back on My words.

18 When you see a thief, you make friends with him, and you associate with adulterers.

19 You unleash your mouth for evil and harness your tongue for deceit.

20 You sit, maligning your brother, slandering your mother's son.

21 You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But I will rebuke you and lay out the case before you.

22 "Understand this, you who forget God, or I will tear you apart, and there will be no rescuer.

23 Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and whoever orders his conduct, I will show him the salvation of God."