Tehillim 49

Orthodox Jewish Bible

49 (For the one directing. A Mizmor for the Bnei Korach). Hear this, kol HaAmim; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the cheled (world, duration):

²⁽³⁾Bnei Adam and bnei ish, ashir (rich) and evyon (poor) alike,

³⁽⁴⁾My mouth shall speak chochmot; and the meditation of my lev tevunot (understanding).

⁴⁽⁵⁾I will incline mine ear to a mashal; I will disclose my dark saying upon the kinnor (harp).

⁵⁽⁶⁾Why should I fear in the days of rah, when the avon (iniquity) of my akev (supplanters, deceivers) surrounds me?

⁶⁽⁷⁾They that trust in their chayil (wealth), and boast themselves in the rov of their oshir (riches);

⁷⁽⁸⁾A brother cannot by any means redeem ish (man), nor give to Elohim a kofer (ransom) for him—

⁸⁽⁹⁾For the pidyon [ransom] of their nefesh is costly, and is forever beyond their power to pay—

⁹⁽¹⁰⁾That he should live on lanetzach, and not see shachat (corruption, decay, the pit [cf Psa16:10]).

¹⁰⁽¹¹⁾For he seeth that chachamim die, likewise the kesil (foolish) and the ba’ar (brutish, senseless person, dolt) perish, and leave their chayil (wealth) to others.

¹¹⁽¹²⁾Their inward thought is, that their batim (houses) shall continue l’olam and their mishkenot (dwelling places) l’odor vador; though they call their lands by their shmot (names).

¹²⁽¹³⁾Nevertheless adam in his pomp endureth not; he is like the behemot (beasts) that perish.

¹³⁽¹⁴⁾This is their derech, kesel (folly, imprudent confidence) is theirs; and the fate after them of those who approve their words.

¹⁴⁽¹⁵⁾Like tzon they are destined for She’ol; mavet shall pasture them; and the yesharim (upright ones) shall have dominion over them in the boker; and their tzir (form) shall waste away to Sheol, so there is no dwelling place for it.

¹⁵⁽¹⁶⁾But Elohim will redeem my nefesh from the yad (hand, power) of Sheol; for He shall receive me. Selah.

¹⁶⁽¹⁷⁾Be not thou afraid when one is made an ish oishir, when the kavod of his bais is increased;

¹⁷⁽¹⁸⁾For in his mot (death), he shall carry nothing away; his kavod (glory, wealth) shall not descend after him.

¹⁸⁽¹⁹⁾Though his nefesh during his life yevarech (he blessed)—for they praise thee when thou doest well for thyself—

¹⁹⁽²⁰⁾He shall go to the dor (generation) of his avot; they shall never see ohr (light).

²⁰⁽²¹⁾Adam that is in his pomp, and understandeth not, is like the behemot (beasts) that perish.

Psalm 49

New International Version

Psalm 49^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

¹Hear^(A) this, all you peoples;^(B)
    listen, all who live in this world,^(C)
²both low and high,^(D)
    rich and poor alike:
³My mouth will speak words of wisdom;^(E)
    the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.^(F)
⁴I will turn my ear to a proverb;^(G)
    with the harp^(H) I will expound my riddle:^(I)

⁵Why should I fear^(J) when evil days come,
    when wicked deceivers surround me—
⁶those who trust in their wealth^(K)
    and boast^(L) of their great riches?^(M)
⁷No one can redeem the life of another
    or give to God a ransom for them—
⁸the ransom^(N) for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough—^(O)
⁹so that they should live on^(P) forever
    and not see decay.^(Q)
¹⁰For all can see that the wise die,^(R)
    that the foolish and the senseless^(S) also perish,
    leaving their wealth^(T) to others.^(U)
¹¹Their tombs^(V) will remain their houses^[b] forever,
    their dwellings for endless generations,^(W)
    though they had^[c] named^(X) lands after themselves.

¹²People, despite their wealth, do not endure;^(Y)
they are like the beasts that perish.^(Z)

¹³This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,^(AA)
    and of their followers, who approve their sayings.^[d]
¹⁴They are like sheep and are destined^(AB) to die;^(AC)
    death will be their shepherd
    (but the upright will prevail^(AD) over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
    far from their princely mansions.
¹⁵But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;^(AE)
    he will surely take me to himself.^(AF)
¹⁶Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
¹⁷for they will take nothing^(AG) with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.^(AH)
¹⁸Though while they live they count themselves blessed—^(AI)
    and people praise you when you prosper—
¹⁹they will join those who have gone before them,^(AJ)
    who will never again see the light^(AK) of life.

²⁰People who have wealth but lack understanding^(AL)
are like the beasts that perish.^(AM)

Footnotes

Psalm 49:1 In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.
Psalm 49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain
Psalm 49:11 Or generations, / for they have
Psalm 49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.

Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

New International Version (NIV)

Tehillim 49

Orthodox Jewish Bible

Psalm 49

New International Version

Psalm 49^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Tehillim 49 Orthodox Jewish Bible

Psalm 49 New International Version

Psalm 49[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Tehillim 49

Orthodox Jewish Bible

Psalm 49

New International Version

Psalm 49^[a]