Psalms 49; Psalms 50

1 Listen to this, all you nations; listen, all you who live on earth.

2 Listen, both great and small, rich and poor together.

3 What I say is wise, and my heart speaks with understanding.

4 I will pay attention to a wise saying; I will explain my riddle on the harp.

5 Why should I be afraid of bad days? Why should I fear when evil men surround me?

6 They trust in their money and brag about their riches.

7 No one can buy back the life of another. No one can pay God for his own life,

8 because the price of a life is high. No payment is ever enough.

9 Do people live forever? Don't they all face death?

10 See, even wise people die. Fools and stupid people also die and leave their wealth to others.

11 Their graves will always be their homes. They will live there from now on, even though they named places after themselves.

12 Even rich people do not live forever; like the animals, people die.

13 This is what will happen to those who trust in themselves and to their followers who believe them. Selah

14 Like sheep, they must die, and death will be their shepherd. Honest people will rule over them in the morning, and their bodies will rot in a grave far from home.

15 But God will save my life and will take me from the grave.Selah

16 Don't be afraid of rich people because their houses are more beautiful.

17 They don't take anything to the grave; their wealth won't go down with them.

18 Even though they were praised when they were alive -- and people may praise you when you succeed --

19 they will go to where their ancestors are. They will never see light again.

20 Rich people with no understanding are just like animals that die. A psalm of Asaph.

1 The God of gods, the Lord, speaks. He calls the earth from the rising to the setting sun.

2 God shines from Jerusalem, whose beauty is perfect.

3 Our God comes, and he will not be silent. A fire burns in front of him, and a powerful storm surrounds him.

4 He calls to the sky above and to the earth that he might judge his people.

5 He says, "Gather around, you who worship me, who have made an agreement with me, using a sacrifice."

6 God is the judge, and even the skies say he is right. Selah

7 God says, "My people, listen to me; Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.

8 I do not scold you for your sacrifices. You always bring me your burnt offerings.

9 But I do not need bulls from your stalls or goats from your pens,

10 because every animal of the forest is already mine. The cattle on a thousand hills are mine.

11 I know every bird on the mountains, and every living thing in the fields is mine.

12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, because the earth and everything in it are mine.

13 I don't eat the meat of bulls or drink the blood of goats.

14 Give an offering to show thanks to God. Give God Most High what you have promised.

15 Call to me in times of trouble. I will save you, and you will honor me."

16 But God says to the wicked, "Why do you talk about my laws? Why do you mention my agreement?

17 You hate my teachings and turn your back on what I say.

18 When you see a thief, you join him. You take part in adultery.

19 You don't stop your mouth from speaking evil, and your tongue makes up lies.

20 You speak against your brother and lie about your mother's son.

21 I have kept quiet while you did these things, so you thought I was just like you. But I will scold you and accuse you to your face.

22 "Think about this, you who forget God. Otherwise, I will tear you apart, and no one will save you.

23 Those people honor me who bring me offerings to show thanks. And I, God, will save those who do that."