Listen, rich and poor alike!
Psalm 49 (New International Version)
1 Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who live in this world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;
the utterance from my heart will give understanding.
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb;
with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5 Why should I fear when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me-
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their great riches?
7 No man can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for him-
8 the ransom for a life is costly,
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Mark 10:45 (New Living Translation)
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
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no payment is ever enough-
9 that he should live on forever
and not see decay.
10 For all can see that wise men die;
the foolish and the senseless alike perish
and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their tombs will remain their houses forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they had named lands after themselves.
12 But man, despite his riches, does not endure;
he is like the beasts that perish.
Money can buy a house, but not a home. Money can buy a bed, but not sleep. Money can buy a wedding ring, but not love. Money can buy a clock, but not time. Money can buy an education, but not wisdom. Money can buy jewelry, but not beauty. Money can buy insurance, but not safety. Money can buy a crucifix, but not a Savior.
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13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
Selah
14 Like sheep they are destined for the grave,
and death will feed on them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning;
their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem my life from the grave;
he will surely take me to himself.
Selah
16 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich,
when the splendor of his house increases;
17 for he will take nothing with him when he dies,
his splendor will not descend with him.
18 Though while he lived he counted himself blessed—
and men praise you when you prosper-
19 he will join the generation of his fathers,
who will never see the light of life .
20 A man who has riches without understanding
is like the beasts that perish.
“I judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity.”
–John Wesley
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Music:
Oh, this psalm encourages us to value what is of everlasting worth! To see our lives with eternity in mind! “Take My Life and Let Me Be” — consecrated, Lord, to thee. A Chris Tomlin arrangement.
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New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
