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Psalm 49-51
Contemporary English Version
Psalm 49-51
Contemporary English Version
(A psalm by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)
Don't Depend on Wealth
1 Everyone on this earth,
now listen to what I say!
2 Listen, no matter who you are,
rich or poor.
3 I speak words of wisdom,
and my thoughts make sense.
4 I have in mind a mystery
that I will explain
while playing my harp.
5 Why should I be afraid
in times of trouble,
when I am surrounded
by vicious enemies?
6 They trust in their riches
and brag about
all their wealth.
7 You cannot buy back your life
or pay off God!
8 It costs far too much
to buy back your life.
You can never pay God enough
9 to stay alive forever
and safe from death.
10 (A) We see that wise people die,
and so do stupid fools.
Then their money is left
for someone else.
11 The grave[a] will be their home
forever and ever,
although they once had land
of their own.
12 Our human glory disappears,
and, like animals, we die.
13 Here is what happens to fools
and to those who trust
the words of fools:[b]
14 They are like sheep
with death as their shepherd,
leading them to the grave.
In the morning God's people
will walk all over them,[c]
as their bodies lie rotting
in their home, the grave.
15 But God will rescue me
from the power of death.
16 Don't let it bother you
when others get rich
and live in luxury.
17 Soon they will die
and all their wealth
will be left behind.
18 We humans are praised
when we do well,
and all of us are glad
to be alive.
19 But we each will go down
to our ancestors,
never again to see
the light of day.
20 Our human glory disappears,
and, like animals, we die.
(A psalm by Asaph.)
What Pleases God
1 From east to west,
the powerful Lord God
has been calling together
everyone on earth.
2 God shines brightly from Zion,
the most beautiful city.
3 Our God approaches,
but not silently;
a flaming fire comes first,
and a storm surrounds him.
4 God comes to judge his people.
He shouts to the heavens
and to the earth,
5 “Call my followers together!
They offered me a sacrifice,
and we made an agreement.”
6 The heavens announce,
“God is the judge,
and he is always honest.”
7 My people, I am God!
Israel, I am your God.
Listen to my charges
against you.
8 Although you offer sacrifices
and always bring gifts,
9 I won't accept your offerings
of bulls and goats.
10 Every animal in the forest
belongs to me,
and so do the cattle
on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds
in the mountains,
and every wild creature
is in my care.
12 If I were hungry,
I wouldn't tell you,
because I own the world
and everything in it.
13 I don't eat the meat of bulls
or drink the blood of goats.
14 I am God Most High!
The only sacrifice I want
is for you to be thankful
and to keep your word.
15 Pray to me in time of trouble.
I will rescue you,
and you will honor me.
16 But to the wicked I say:
“You don't have the right
to mention my laws or claim
to keep our agreement!
17 You refused correction
and rejected my commands.
18 You made friends
with every crook you met,
and you liked people who break
their wedding vows.
19 You talked only about violence
and told nothing but lies;
20 you sat around gossiping,
ruining the reputation
of your own relatives.”
21 When you did all this,
I didn't say a word,
and you thought,
“God is just like us!”
But now I will accuse you.
22 You have ignored me!
So pay close attention
or I will tear you apart,
and no one can help you.
23 The sacrifice that honors me
is a thankful heart.
Obey me,[d] and I, your God,
will show my power to save.
(For the music leader. A psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had been with Bathsheba.)
A Prayer for Forgiveness
1 (B) You are kind, God!
Please have pity on me.
You are always merciful!
Please wipe away my sins.
2 Wash me clean from all
of my sin and guilt.
3 I know about my sins,
and I cannot forget
the burden of my guilt.
4 (C) You are really the one
I have sinned against;
I have disobeyed you
and have done wrong.
So it is right and fair for you
to correct and punish me.
5 I have sinned and done wrong
since the day I was born.
6 But you want complete honesty,
so teach me true wisdom.
7 Wash me with hyssop[e]
until I am clean
and whiter than snow.
8 Let me be happy and joyful!
You crushed my bones,
now let them celebrate.
9 Turn your eyes from my sin
and cover my guilt.
10 Create pure thoughts in me
and make me faithful again.
11 Don't chase me away from you
or take your Holy Spirit
away from me.
12 Make me as happy as you did
when you saved me;
make me want to obey!
13 I will teach sinners your Law,
and they will return to you.
14 Keep me from any deadly sin.
Only you can save me!
Then I will shout and sing
about your power to save.
15 Help me to speak,
and I will praise you, Lord.
16 Offerings and sacrifices
are not what you want.
17 The way to please you
is to be truly sorry
deep in our hearts.
This is the kind of sacrifice
you won't refuse.
18 Please be willing, Lord,
to help the city of Zion
and to rebuild its walls.
19 Then you will be pleased
with the proper sacrifices,
and we will offer bulls
on your altar once again.
Footnotes
- 49.11 The grave: Some ancient translations; Hebrew “Their inward thoughts.”
- 49.13 and to those … fools: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 49.14 as their shepherd … over them: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 50.23 Obey me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 51.7 hyssop: A small bush with bunches of small, white flowers. It was sometimes used as a symbol for making a person clean from sin.
Psalm 49-51
New International Version
Psalm 49-51
New International Version
Psalm 49[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Hear(A) this, all you peoples;(B)
listen, all who live in this world,(C)
2 both low and high,(D)
rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;(E)
the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.(F)
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb;(G)
with the harp(H) I will expound my riddle:(I)
5 Why should I fear(J) when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me—
6 those who trust in their wealth(K)
and boast(L) of their great riches?(M)
7 No one can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for them—
8 the ransom(N) for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough—(O)
9 so that they should live on(P) forever
and not see decay.(Q)
10 For all can see that the wise die,(R)
that the foolish and the senseless(S) also perish,
leaving their wealth(T) to others.(U)
11 Their tombs(V) will remain their houses[b] forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,(W)
though they had[c] named(X) lands after themselves.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,(AA)
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[d]
14 They 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.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;(AE)
he will surely take me to himself.(AF)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing(AG) with them when they die,
their splendor will not descend with them.(AH)
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—(AI)
and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,(AJ)
who will never again see the light(AK) of life.
Psalm 50
A psalm of Asaph.
1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord,(AN)
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.(AO)
2 From Zion,(AP) perfect in beauty,(AQ)
God shines forth.(AR)
3 Our God comes(AS)
and will not be silent;(AT)
a fire devours(AU) before him,(AV)
and around him a tempest(AW) rages.
4 He summons the heavens above,
and the earth,(AX) that he may judge his people:(AY)
5 “Gather to me this consecrated people,(AZ)
who made a covenant(BA) with me by sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens proclaim(BB) his righteousness,
for he is a God of justice.[e][f](BC)
7 “Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testify(BD) against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.(BE)
8 I bring no charges(BF) against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings,(BG) which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull(BH) from your stall
or of goats(BI) from your pens,(BJ)
10 for every animal of the forest(BK) is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.(BL)
11 I know every bird(BM) in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields(BN) are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world(BO) is mine, and all that is in it.(BP)
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
14 “Sacrifice thank offerings(BQ) to God,
fulfill your vows(BR) to the Most High,(BS)
15 and call(BT) on me in the day of trouble;(BU)
I will deliver(BV) you, and you will honor(BW) me.”
16 But to the wicked person, God says:
“What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenant(BX) on your lips?(BY)
17 You hate(BZ) my instruction
and cast my words behind(CA) you.
18 When you see a thief, you join(CB) with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.(CC)
19 You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.(CD)
20 You sit and testify against your brother(CE)
and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,(CF)
you thought I was exactly[g] like you.
But I now arraign(CG) you
and set my accusations(CH) before you.
22 “Consider this, you who forget God,(CI)
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:(CJ)
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
and to the blameless[h] I will show my salvation.(CK)”
Psalm 51[i]
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.(CL)
1 Have mercy(CM) on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;(CN)
according to your great compassion(CO)
blot out(CP) my transgressions.(CQ)
2 Wash away(CR) all my iniquity
and cleanse(CS) me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.(CT)
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned(CU)
and done what is evil in your sight;(CV)
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.(CW)
5 Surely I was sinful(CX) at birth,(CY)
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom(CZ) in that secret place.(DA)
7 Cleanse(DB) me with hyssop,(DC) and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.(DD)
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;(DE)
let the bones(DF) you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins(DG)
and blot out(DH) all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart,(DI) O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.(DJ)
11 Do not cast me(DK) from your presence(DL)
or take your Holy Spirit(DM) from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation(DN)
and grant me a willing spirit,(DO) to sustain me.(DP)
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,(DQ)
so that sinners(DR) will turn back to you.(DS)
14 Deliver me(DT) from the guilt of bloodshed,(DU) O God,
you who are God my Savior,(DV)
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.(DW)
15 Open my lips, Lord,(DX)
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice,(DY) or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice,(DZ) O God, is[j] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart(EA)
you, God, will not despise.
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.
- 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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