Psalm 49,84,85,87
PSALMS 49
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1Hear 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 housesforever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they hadnamed 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.
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.
PSALMS 84
For the director of music. According to gittith.Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
2My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
3Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
4Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
5Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9Look on our shield,O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
10Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.
PSALMS 85
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2You forgave the iniquity of your people
and covered all their sins.
3You set aside all your wrath
and turned from your fierce anger.
4Restore us again, God our Savior,
and put away your displeasure toward us.
5Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
7Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.
9Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12The Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
13Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
PSALMS 87
Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.
1He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
2The Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
3Glorious things are said of you,
city of God:
4“I will record Rahaband Babylon
among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush—
and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’ ”
5Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
“This one and that one were born in her,
and the Most High himself will establish her.”
6The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
“This one was born in Zion.”
7As they make music they will sing,
“All my fountains are in you.”