Psalm 49

MISPLACED TRUST IN WEALTH
For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who inhabit the world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor together.
3 My mouth speaks wisdom;
my heart’s meditation brings understanding.
4 I turn my ear to a proverb;
I explain my riddle with a lyre.
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble?
The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.
6 They trust in their wealth
and boast of their abundant riches.
7 Yet these cannot redeem a person
or pay his ransom to God —
8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly,
one should forever stop trying —
9 so that he may live forever
and not see the Pit.
10 For one can see that the wise die;
the foolish and stupid also pass away.
Then they leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their permanent homes,
their dwellings from generation to generation,
though they have named estates after themselves.
12 But despite his assets, mankind will not last;
he is like the animals that perish.
13 This is the way of those who are arrogant,
and of their followers,
who approve of their words. Selah
14 Like sheep they are headed for Sheol;
Death will shepherd them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning,
and their form will waste away in Sheol,
far from their lofty abode.
15 But God will redeem me
from the power of Sheol,
for he will take me. Selah
16 Do not be afraid when a person gets rich,
when the wealth of his house increases.
17 For when he dies, he will take nothing at all;
his wealth will not follow him down.
18 Though he blesses himself during his lifetime —
and you are acclaimed when you do well for yourself —
19 he will go to the generation of his ancestors;
they will never see the light.
20 Mankind, with his assets
but without understanding,
is like the animals that perish.

Psalm 84

LONGING FOR GOD’S HOUSE
For the choir director: on the Gittith. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord of Armies.
2 I long and yearn
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even a sparrow finds a home,
and a swallow, a nest for herself
where she places her young —
near your altars, Lord of Armies,
my King and my God.
4 How happy are those who reside in your house,
who praise you continually. Selah
5 Happy are the people whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a source of spring water;
even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings.
7 They go from strength to strength;
each appears before God in Zion.
8 Lord God of Armies, hear my prayer;
listen, God of Jacob. Selah
9 Consider our shield, God;
look on the face of your anointed one.
10 Better a day in your courts
than a thousand anywhere else.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
than live in the tents of wicked people.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield.
The Lord grants favor and honor;
he does not withhold the good
from those who live with integrity.
12 Happy is the person who trusts in you,
Lord of Armies!

Psalm 85

RESTORATION OF FAVOR
For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

Lord, you showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave your people’s guilt;
you covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your fury;
you turned from your burning anger.
4 Return to us, God of our salvation,
and abandon your displeasure with us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger for all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again
so that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your faithful love, Lord,
and give us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what God will say;
surely the Lord will declare peace
to his people, his faithful ones,
and not let them go back to foolish ways.
9 His salvation is very near those who fear him,
so that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Faithful love and truth will join together;
righteousness and peace will embrace.
11 Truth will spring up from the earth,
and righteousness will look down from heaven.
12 Also, the Lord will provide what is good,
and our land will yield its crops.
13 Righteousness will go before him
to prepare the way for his steps.

Psalm 87

ZION, THE CITY OF GOD
A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.

The city he founded is on the holy mountains.
2 The Lord loves Zion’s city gates
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are said about you,
city of God. Selah
4 “I will make a record of those who know me:
Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush —
each one was born there.”
5 And it will be said of Zion,
“This one and that one were born in her.”
The Most High himself will establish her.
6 When he registers the peoples,
the Lord will record,
“This one was born there.” Selah
7 Singers and dancers alike will say,
“My whole source of joy is in you.”

— Psalms 49; 84; 85; 87 (CSB)