Psalms 49

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 For the leader. A psalm of the Korahites.	1 A Psalm of Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord has spoken, and he has called the earth, from the rising of the sun even to its setting,
2 Hear this, all you peoples! Give ear, all who inhabit the world,	2 from Zion, the brilliance of his beauty.
3 You of lowly birth or high estate, rich and poor alike.	3 God will arrive manifestly. Our God also will not keep silence. A fire will flare up in his sight, and a mighty tempest will surround him.
4 My mouth shall speak wisdom, my heart shall offer insight.	4 He will call to heaven from above, and to the earth, to discern his people.
5 I will turn my attention to a problem, expound my question to the music of a lyre.	5 Gather his holy ones to him, you who order his covenant above sacrifices.
6 Why should I fear in evil days, when my wicked pursuers ring me round,	6 And the heavens will announce his justice. For God is the judge.
7 Those who trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches?	7 Listen, my people, and I will speak. Listen, Israel, and I will testify for you. I am God, your God.
8 One cannot redeem oneself, pay to God a ransom.	8 I will not reprove you for your sacrifices. Moreover, your holocausts are ever in my sight.
9 Too high the price to redeem a life; one would never have enough	9 I will not accept calves from your house, nor he-goats from your flocks.
10 To stay alive forever and never see the pit.	10 For all the wild beasts of the forest are mine: the cattle on the hills and the oxen.
11 Anyone can see that the wisest die, the fool and the senseless pass away too, and must leave their wealth to others.	11 I know all the flying things of the air, and the beauty of the field is with me.
12 Tombs are their homes forever, their dwellings through all generations, though they gave their names to their lands.	12 If I should be hungry, I would not tell you: for the whole world is mine, and all its plentitude.
13 For all their riches mortals do not abide; they perish like the beasts.	13 Shall I gnaw on the flesh of bulls? Or would I drink the blood of goats?
14 This is the destiny of those who trust in folly, the end of those so pleased with their wealth. Selah	14 Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High.
15 Like sheep they are herded into Sheol, where death will be their shepherd. Straight to the grave they descend, where their form will waste away, Sheol will be their palace.	15 And call upon me in the day of tribulation. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.
16 But God will redeem my life, will take me from the power of Sheol. Selah	16 But to the sinner, God has said: Why do you discourse on my justices, and take up my covenant through your mouth?
17 Do not fear when others become rich, when the wealth of their houses grows great.	17 Truly, you have hated discipline, and you have cast my sermons behind you.
18 When they die they will take nothing with them, their wealth will not follow them down.	18 If you saw a thief, you ran with him, and you have placed your portion with adulterers.
19 When living, they congratulate themselves and say: "All praise you, you do so well."	19 Your mouth has abounded with malice, and your tongue has concocted deceits.
20 But they will join the company of their forebears, never again to see the light.	20 Sitting, you spoke against your brother, and you set up a scandal against your mother’s son.
21 For all their riches, if mortals do not have wisdom, they perish like the beasts.	21 These things you have done, and I was silent. You thought, unjustly, that I ought to be like you. But I will reprove you, and I will set myself against your face.
	22 Understand these things, you who forget God; lest at any time, he might quickly take you away, and there would be no one to rescue you.
	23 The sacrifice of praise will honor me. And in that place is the journey by which I will reveal to him the salvation of God.