| Chapter 49 |
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<Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.>\ |
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\49:1\Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world. |
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\49:2\High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth. |
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\49:3\From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge. |
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\49:4\I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music. |
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\49:5\What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me? |
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\49:6\Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores. |
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\49:7\Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself; |
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\49:8\(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.) |
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\49:9\So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld. |
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\49:10\For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others. |
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\49:11\The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands. |
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\49:12\But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts. |
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\49:13\This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah.) |
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\49:14\Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever. |
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\49:15\But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.) |
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\49:16\Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased; |
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\49:17\For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. |
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\49:18\Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself, |
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\49:19\He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again. |
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\49:20\Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts. |