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Psalm 47-51
New Life Version
Psalm 47-51
New Life Version
God—the King of the Earth
47 Show your happiness, all peoples! Call out to God with the voice of joy! 2 For the Lord Most High is to be feared. He is a great King over all the earth. 3 He sets people under us, and nations under our feet. 4 He chooses for us what is to be ours, the pride of Jacob, whom He loves.
5 God has gone up with a loud voice, the Lord with the sound of a horn. 6 Sing praises to God. Sing praises. Sing praises to our King. Sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with a well written song. 8 God rules over the nations. God sits on His holy throne. 9 The rulers of the people have gathered together as the people of the God of Abraham. For the powers of the earth belong to God. He is much honored.
It Is Foolish to Trust in Riches
48 The Lord is great and should be given much praise, in the city of our God, His holy mountain. 2 Mount Zion in the far north is beautiful and high, the joy of the whole earth, the city of the great King. 3 God has made Himself known as a safe place in that city.
4 For, see, the kings gathered themselves and went up together. 5 They saw it, then they were surprised and afraid. And they ran away fast in fear. 6 They began shaking there. And they suffered pain like a woman giving birth. 7 You wreck the ships of Tarshish with the east wind. 8 As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord of All, in the city of our God. God will make her last forever.
9 O God, we have thought about Your loving-kindness within Your holy house. 10 Like Your name, O God, Your praise is heard to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is full of what is right and good. 11 Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the people of Judah be full of joy because You are right in how You judge. 12 Walk in Zion, and go around her. See how many towers she has. 13 Give thought to her walls. Go through her beautiful houses where kings live. And tell about it to the children-to-come. 14 This is God, our God forever and ever. He will show us the way until death.
A Fool Trusts in Riches
49 Hear this, all people. Listen, all who live in the world, 2 both small and great, rich and poor together. 3 My mouth will speak wisdom. And the thoughts of my heart will be understanding. 4 I will turn my ear to a wise saying. With a harp, I will tell what is hard to understand.
5 Why should I be afraid in the days of trouble, when the sin of those who hate me is all around me? 6 They trust in their riches, and are proud of all they have. 7 No man can save his brother. No man can pay God enough to save him. 8 The cost is much for his soul to be saved. Man should stop trying 9 to live forever and not see the grave.
10 For he sees that even wise men die. The fool and those who cannot think well die alike. And they leave their riches to others. 11 They think in their hearts that their houses will last forever, and that the places where they live will last for all their children to follow. They have used their own names to name their lands. 12 But man with all his honor does not last. He is like the animals that die.
13 This is the way of the foolish, and of those after them who believe in their words. 14 Like sheep they are meant for the grave. Death will be their shepherd. And those who are right with God will rule over them in the morning. Their bodies will be eaten by the grave, so that they have no place to stay. 15 But God will free my soul from the power of the grave. For He will take me to Himself.
16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and when his house grows in greatness. 17 For when he dies he will take nothing with him. His greatness will not go down with him. 18 Even if while he lives, he thinks good of himself, and even though men praise you when you do well for yourself, 19 he will go and join the family of his fathers. They will never see the light. 20 Man with all his honor, yet without understanding, is like the animals that die.
God Decides Right from Wrong
50 The Powerful One, God, the Lord, has spoken. And He calls the earth from where the sun rises to where the sun goes down. 2 God shines from Zion, perfect in beauty. 3 May our God come and not keep quiet. A fire burns before Him, and around Him is a powerful storm. 4 He calls the heavens above, and the earth, that He may judge His people: 5 “Gather My holy ones to Me, those who have made an agreement with Me by their gifts given on an altar.” 6 And the heavens will tell how right and good He is, for God Himself is judge.
7 “Listen, O My people, and I will speak. O Israel, I will speak against you. I am God, your God. 8 I do not speak sharp words to you for your gifts given on an altar. And your burnt gifts are always before Me. 9 I will not take a young bull out of your house, or male goats out of your fields. 10 For every animal among the trees is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know every bird of the mountains. And all things that move in the field are Mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you. For the world is Mine, and all that is in it. 13 Should I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of male goats? 14 Give a gift of thanks on the altar to God. And pay your promises to the Most High. 15 Call on Me in the day of trouble. I will take you out of trouble, and you will honor Me.”
16 But to the sinful, God says: “What right do you have to tell of My Laws, and take My agreement in your mouth? 17 For you hate to be told what to do, and you throw My words behind you. 18 When you see a robber, you are pleased with him. And you join those who do sex sins. 19 You say bad things with your mouth, and you lie with your tongue. 20 You sit and speak against your brother. You talk against your own mother’s son. 21 You have done these things, and I have kept quiet. You thought that I was just like you. But I will speak sharp words to you, and tell you who is guilty to your face.
22 “Now think about this, you who forget God, or I will tear you in pieces and there will be no one to save you. 23 He who gives a gift of thanks honors Me. And to him who makes his way right, I will show him the saving power of God.”
Prayer of the Sinner
51 O God, favor me because of Your loving-kindness. Take away my wrong-doing because of the greatness of Your loving-pity. 2 Wash me inside and out from my wrong-doing and make me clean from my sin. 3 For I know my wrong-doing, and my sin is always in front of me. 4 I have sinned against You, and You only. I have done what is sinful in Your eyes. You are always right when You speak, and fair when You judge.
5 See, I was born in sin and was in sin from my very beginning. 6 See, You want truth deep within the heart. And You will make me know wisdom in the hidden part. 7 Take away my sin, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and happiness. Let the bones that You have broken be full of joy. 9 Hide Your face from my sins. And take away all my wrong-doing.
10 Make a clean heart in me, O God. Give me a new spirit that will not be moved. 11 Do not throw me away from where You are. And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Let the joy of Your saving power return to me. And give me a willing spirit to obey you. 13 Then I will teach wrong-doers Your ways. And sinners will turn to You.
14 Save me from the guilt of blood, O God. You are the God Who saves me. Then my tongue will sing with joy about how right and good You are. 15 O Lord, open my lips, so my mouth will praise You. 16 For You are not happy with a gift given on the altar in worship, or I would give it. You are not pleased with burnt gifts. 17 The gifts on an altar that God wants are a broken spirit. O God, You will not hate a broken heart and a heart with no pride.
18 Be pleased to do good to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You will be happy with gifts given on the altar that are right and good, with burnt gifts and whole burnt gifts. Then young bulls will be given on Your altar.
Psalm 47-51
New International Version
Psalm 47-51
New International Version
Psalm 47[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
2 For the Lord Most High(C) is awesome,(D)
the great King(E) over all the earth.
3 He subdued(F) nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance(G) for us,
the pride of Jacob,(H) whom he loved.[b]
5 God has ascended(I) amid shouts of joy,(J)
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.(K)
6 Sing praises(L) to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth;(M)
sing to him a psalm(N) of praise.
8 God reigns(O) over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.(P)
9 The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings[c] of the earth belong to God;(Q)
he is greatly exalted.(R)
Psalm 48[d]
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1 Great is the Lord,(S) and most worthy of praise,(T)
in the city of our God,(U) his holy mountain.(V)
2 Beautiful(W) in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon[e](X) is Mount Zion,(Y)
the city of the Great King.(Z)
3 God is in her citadels;(AA)
he has shown himself to be her fortress.(AB)
4 When the kings joined forces,
when they advanced together,(AC)
5 they saw her and were astounded;
they fled in terror.(AD)
6 Trembling seized(AE) them there,
pain like that of a woman in labor.(AF)
7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish(AG)
shattered by an east wind.(AH)
8 As we have heard,
so we have seen
in the city of the Lord Almighty,
in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
forever.[f](AI)
9 Within your temple, O God,
we meditate(AJ) on your unfailing love.(AK)
10 Like your name,(AL) O God,
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;(AM)
your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices,
the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.(AN)
12 Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,(AO)
13 consider well her ramparts,(AP)
view her citadels,(AQ)
that you may tell of them
to the next generation.(AR)
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide(AS) even to the end.
Psalm 49[g]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Hear(AT) this, all you peoples;(AU)
listen, all who live in this world,(AV)
2 both low and high,(AW)
rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;(AX)
the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.(AY)
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb;(AZ)
with the harp(BA) I will expound my riddle:(BB)
5 Why should I fear(BC) when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me—
6 those who trust in their wealth(BD)
and boast(BE) of their great riches?(BF)
7 No one can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for them—
8 the ransom(BG) for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough—(BH)
9 so that they should live on(BI) forever
and not see decay.(BJ)
10 For all can see that the wise die,(BK)
that the foolish and the senseless(BL) also perish,
leaving their wealth(BM) to others.(BN)
11 Their tombs(BO) will remain their houses[h] forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,(BP)
though they had[i] named(BQ) lands after themselves.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,(BT)
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[j]
14 They are like sheep and are destined(BU) to die;(BV)
death will be their shepherd
(but the upright will prevail(BW) over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;(BX)
he will surely take me to himself.(BY)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing(BZ) with them when they die,
their splendor will not descend with them.(CA)
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—(CB)
and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,(CC)
who will never again see the light(CD) of life.
Psalm 50
A psalm of Asaph.
1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord,(CG)
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.(CH)
2 From Zion,(CI) perfect in beauty,(CJ)
God shines forth.(CK)
3 Our God comes(CL)
and will not be silent;(CM)
a fire devours(CN) before him,(CO)
and around him a tempest(CP) rages.
4 He summons the heavens above,
and the earth,(CQ) that he may judge his people:(CR)
5 “Gather to me this consecrated people,(CS)
who made a covenant(CT) with me by sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens proclaim(CU) his righteousness,
for he is a God of justice.[k][l](CV)
7 “Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testify(CW) against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.(CX)
8 I bring no charges(CY) against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings,(CZ) which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull(DA) from your stall
or of goats(DB) from your pens,(DC)
10 for every animal of the forest(DD) is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.(DE)
11 I know every bird(DF) in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields(DG) are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world(DH) is mine, and all that is in it.(DI)
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
14 “Sacrifice thank offerings(DJ) to God,
fulfill your vows(DK) to the Most High,(DL)
15 and call(DM) on me in the day of trouble;(DN)
I will deliver(DO) you, and you will honor(DP) me.”
16 But to the wicked person, God says:
“What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenant(DQ) on your lips?(DR)
17 You hate(DS) my instruction
and cast my words behind(DT) you.
18 When you see a thief, you join(DU) with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.(DV)
19 You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.(DW)
20 You sit and testify against your brother(DX)
and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,(DY)
you thought I was exactly[m] like you.
But I now arraign(DZ) you
and set my accusations(EA) before you.
22 “Consider this, you who forget God,(EB)
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:(EC)
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
and to the blameless[n] I will show my salvation.(ED)”
Psalm 51[o]
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.(EE)
1 Have mercy(EF) on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;(EG)
according to your great compassion(EH)
blot out(EI) my transgressions.(EJ)
2 Wash away(EK) all my iniquity
and cleanse(EL) me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.(EM)
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned(EN)
and done what is evil in your sight;(EO)
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.(EP)
5 Surely I was sinful(EQ) at birth,(ER)
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom(ES) in that secret place.(ET)
7 Cleanse(EU) me with hyssop,(EV) and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.(EW)
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;(EX)
let the bones(EY) you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins(EZ)
and blot out(FA) all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart,(FB) O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.(FC)
11 Do not cast me(FD) from your presence(FE)
or take your Holy Spirit(FF) from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation(FG)
and grant me a willing spirit,(FH) to sustain me.(FI)
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,(FJ)
so that sinners(FK) will turn back to you.(FL)
14 Deliver me(FM) from the guilt of bloodshed,(FN) O God,
you who are God my Savior,(FO)
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.(FP)
15 Open my lips, Lord,(FQ)
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice,(FR) or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice,(FS) O God, is[p] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart(FT)
you, God, will not despise.
Footnotes
- Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
- Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 47:9 Or shields
- Psalm 48:1 In Hebrew texts 48:1-14 is numbered 48:2-15.
- Psalm 48:2 Zaphon was the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites.
- Psalm 48:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- 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.
- Psalm 50:6 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text for God himself is judge
- Psalm 50:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 50:21 Or thought the ‘I am’ was
- Psalm 50:23 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; the meaning of the Masoretic Text for this phrase is uncertain.
- Psalm 51:1 In Hebrew texts 51:1-19 is numbered 51:3-21.
- Psalm 51:17 Or The sacrifices of God are
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