Psalm 47:1-49:20

Psalm 47In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10. 1For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.

2For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.

3He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.

4He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

5God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.

6Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.

7For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.

8God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. 9The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings Or shields of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.

Psalm 48In Hebrew texts 48:1-14 is numbered 48:2-15. 1A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

2Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights of Zaphon Zaphon was the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites. is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King.

3God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress.

4When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together,

5they saw her and were astounded; they fled in terror.

6Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor.

7You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind.

8As 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. The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

9Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.

10Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness.

11Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments.

12Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers,

13consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation. 14For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Psalm 49In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21. 1For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,

2both low and high, rich and poor alike:

3My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.

4I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:

5Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—

6those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?

7No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—

8the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—

9so that they should live on forever and not see decay.

10For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.

11Their tombs will remain their houses Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had Or generations, / for they have named lands after themselves.

12People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.

13This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.

14They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail 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; he will surely take me to himself.

16Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;

17for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.

18Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—

19they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life. 20People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.