Psalms 49

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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,	1 For the leader. A psalm of the Korahites.
2 from Zion, the brilliance of his beauty.	2 Hear this, all you peoples! Give ear, all who inhabit the world,
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.	3 You of lowly birth or high estate, rich and poor alike.
4 He will call to heaven from above, and to the earth, to discern his people.	4 My mouth shall speak wisdom, my heart shall offer insight.
5 Gather his holy ones to him, you who order his covenant above sacrifices.	5 I will turn my attention to a problem, expound my question to the music of a lyre.
6 And the heavens will announce his justice. For God is the judge.	6 Why should I fear in evil days, when my wicked pursuers ring me round,
7 Listen, my people, and I will speak. Listen, Israel, and I will testify for you. I am God, your God.	7 Those who trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches?
8 I will not reprove you for your sacrifices. Moreover, your holocausts are ever in my sight.	8 One cannot redeem oneself, pay to God a ransom.
9 I will not accept calves from your house, nor he-goats from your flocks.	9 Too high the price to redeem a life; one would never have enough
10 For all the wild beasts of the forest are mine: the cattle on the hills and the oxen.	10 To stay alive forever and never see the pit.
11 I know all the flying things of the air, and the beauty of the field is with me.	11 Anyone can see that the wisest die, the fool and the senseless pass away too, and must leave their wealth to others.
12 If I should be hungry, I would not tell you: for the whole world is mine, and all its plentitude.	12 Tombs are their homes forever, their dwellings through all generations, though they gave their names to their lands.
13 Shall I gnaw on the flesh of bulls? Or would I drink the blood of goats?	13 For all their riches mortals do not abide; they perish like the beasts.
14 Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High.	14 This is the destiny of those who trust in folly, the end of those so pleased with their wealth. Selah
15 And call upon me in the day of tribulation. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.	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.
16 But to the sinner, God has said: Why do you discourse on my justices, and take up my covenant through your mouth?	16 But God will redeem my life, will take me from the power of Sheol. Selah
17 Truly, you have hated discipline, and you have cast my sermons behind you.	17 Do not fear when others become rich, when the wealth of their houses grows great.
18 If you saw a thief, you ran with him, and you have placed your portion with adulterers.	18 When they die they will take nothing with them, their wealth will not follow them down.
19 Your mouth has abounded with malice, and your tongue has concocted deceits.	19 When living, they congratulate themselves and say: "All praise you, you do so well."
20 Sitting, you spoke against your brother, and you set up a scandal against your mother’s son.	20 But they will join the company of their forebears, never again to see the light.
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.	21 For all their riches, if mortals do not have wisdom, they perish like the beasts.
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.