The Folly of Wealth
Psalms 48
The psalmist addresses all peoples, rich and poor, with a meditation on the impossibility of one man ransoming another's soul from death or buying his own escape from it. Though the wise and the foolish alike die and leave their wealth to strangers, the psalmist trusts that the Lord will deliver his soul from the power of Hades, and urges others not to fear when a man's wealth or house increases, since he carries nothing with him in death.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
Thomson—
BrentonFor the end, a Psalm for the sons of Core.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, τοῖς υἱοῖς Κορὲ ψαλμός.
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader; a Psalm for the sons of Korah.
2
ThomsonHEAR these things, all ye nations; listen attentively, all ye inhabitants of the world!
BrentonHear these words, all ye nations, hearken, all ye that dwell upon the earth:
GreekἈκούσατε ταῦτα πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, ἐνωτίσασθε πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν οἰκουμένην,
KJV—
JPS—
3
Thomsonboth ye of lowest rank, and heads of families; both rich and poor together.
Brentonboth the sons of mean men, and sons of great men; the rich and poor man together.
Greekοἵ τε γηγενεῖς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἐπιτοαυτὸ πλούσιος καὶ πένης.
KJVBoth low and high, rich and poor, together.
JPSBoth low and high, Rich and poor together.
4
ThomsonMy mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart understanding.
BrentonMy mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring forth understanding.
GreekΤὸ στόμα μου λαλήσει σοφίαν, καὶ ἡ μελέτη τῆς καρδίας μου σύνεσιν.
KJVMy mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
JPSMy mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
5
ThomsonI will incline mine ear to a parable: with a psaltery I will unfold my problem.
BrentonI will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.
GreekΚλινῶ εἰς παραβολὴν τὸ οὖς μου, ἀνοίξω ἐν ψαλτηρίῳ τὸ πρόβλημά μου.
KJVI will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
JPSI will incline mine ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
6
ThomsonWhy am I terrified in an evil day? The iniquity at my heel will surround me.
BrentonWherefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.
GreekἹνατί φοβοῦμαι ἐν ἡμέρᾳ πονηρᾷ; ἡ ἀνομία τῆς πτέρνης μου κυκλώσει με.
KJVWherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
JPSWherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters compasseth me about,
7
ThomsonSome put confidence in their power: and some boast of the abundance of their wealth.
BrentonThey that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—
GreekΟἱ πεποιθότες ἐπὶ τῇ δυνάμει αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ πλήθει τοῦ πλούτου αὐτῶν καυχώμενοι.
KJVThey that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
JPSOf them that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches?
8
ThomsonA brother is not redeemed. Is a man to redeem himself?
BrentonA brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,
GreekἈδελφὸς οὐ λυτροῦται, λυτρώσεται ἄνθρωπος; οὐ δώσει τῷ Θεῷ ἐξίλασμα ἑαυτοῦ,
KJVNone of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
JPSNo man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—
9
ThomsonHe cannot give to God an atonement for himself; and the price for the redemption of his life:
Brentonor the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labour for ever,
Greekκαὶ τὴν τιμὴν τῆς λυτρώσεως τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐκοπίασεν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα,
KJV(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
JPSFor too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever—
10
ThomsonThough he laboured for the age that he may live to the end. Shall he therefore not see corruption?
Brentonand live to the end, so that he should not see corruption.
Greekκαὶ ζήσεται εἰς τέλος· ὅτι οὐκ ὄψεται καταφθορὰν,
KJVThat he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
JPSThat he should still live always, that he should not see the pit.
11
ThomsonWhen he seeth the wise dying; together the foolish and senseless shall perish. And they shall leave their wealth to others.
BrentonWhen he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.
GreekὍταν ἴδῃ σοφοὺς ἀποθνήσκοντας, ἐπιτοαυτὸ ἄφρων καὶ ἄνους ἀπολοῦνται, καὶ καταλείψουσιν ἀλλοτρίοις τὸν πλοῦτον αὐτῶν.
KJVFor he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
JPSFor he seeth that wise men die, The fool and the brutish together perish, And leave their wealth to others.
12
ThomsonBut their graves shall be their houses forever—their dwelling places to all generations. On these parcels of earth, they have put their names.
BrentonAnd their sepulchres are their houses for ever, even their tabernacles to all generations: they have called their lands after their own names.
GreekΚαὶ οἱ τάφοι αὐτῶν οἰκίαι αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, σκηνώματα αὐτῶν εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεὰν, ἐπεκαλέσαντο τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τῶν γαιῶν αὐτῶν.
KJVTheir inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
JPSTheir inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, And their dwelling-places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names.
13
ThomsonWhen a man, who is in honour, hath not understanding: he hath been compared to the brute beasts and is like them—
BrentonAnd man being in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.
GreekΚαὶ ἄνθρωπος ἐν τιμῇ ὢν, οὐ συνῆκε, παρασυνεβλήθη τοῖς κτήνεσι τοῖς ἀνοήτοις, καὶ ὡμοιώθη αὐτοῖς.
KJVNevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
JPSBut man abideth not in honour; He is like the beasts that perish.
14
Thomson—
BrentonThis their way is an offence to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. Pause.
GreekΑὕτη ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτῶν σκάνδαλον αὐτοῖς, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν εὐλογήσουσι· διάψαλμα.
KJVThis their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
JPSThis is the way of them that are foolish, and of those who after them approve their sayings. Selah
15
ThomsonThey are pent-up like sheep in the mansion of the dead: death shall feed them and the early watches will rule over them: and that help of theirs from their glory, shall in the mansion of the dead become obsolete.
BrentonThey have laid them as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory.
GreekὩς πρόβατα ἐν ᾅδῃ ἔθεντο, θάνατος ποιμανεῖ αὐτούς· καὶ κατακυριεύσουσιν αὐτῶν οἱ εὐθεῖς τοπρωῒ, καὶ ἡ βοήθεια αὐτῶν παλαιωθήσεται ἐν τῷ ᾅδῃ ἐκ τῆς δόξης αὐτῶν.
KJVLike sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
JPSLike sheep they are appointed for the nether-world; death shall be their shepherd; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their form shall be for the nether-world to wear away, That there be no habitation for it.
16
ThomsonBut God will redeem my soul from the power of that mansion when it receiveth me.
BrentonBut God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. Pause.
GreekΠλὴν ὁ Θεὸς λυτρώσεται τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐκ χειρὸς ᾅδου, ὅταν λαμβάνῃ με· διάψαλμα.
KJVBut God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
JPSBut God will redeem my soul from the power of the nether-world; For He shall receive me. Selah
17
ThomsonFear not when a man groweth rich, nor when the glory of his house is increased.
BrentonFear not when a man is enriched, and when the glory of his house is increased.
GreekΜὴ φοβοῦ ὅταν πλουτήσῃ ἄνθρωπος, καὶ ὅταν πληθυνθῇ ἡ δόξα τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ.
KJVBe not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
JPSBe not thou afraid when one waxeth rich, When the wealth of his house is increased;
18
ThomsonFor when he dieth he can carry nothing away: nor will this glory of his descend with him.
BrentonFor he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.
GreekὍτι οὐκ ἐν τῷ ἀποθνήσκειν αὐτὸν λήψεται τὰ πάντα, οὐδὲ συγκαταβήσεται αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα αὐτοῦ.
KJVFor when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
JPSFor when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; His wealth shall not descend after him.
19
ThomsonBecause during this life his soul shall be blessed; let him praise Thee when Thou doest him a benefit.
BrentonFor his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to thee when thou dost well to him.
GreekὍτι ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτοῦ εὐλογηθήσεται, ἐξομολογήσεταί σοι ὅταν ἀγαθύνῃς αὐτῷ.
KJVThough while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
JPSThough while he lived he blessed his soul: 'Men will praise thee, when thou shalt do well to thyself';
20
ThomsonHe shall go to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.
BrentonYet he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.
GreekΕἰσελεύσεται ἕως γενεᾶς πατέρων αὐτοῦ, ἕως αἰῶνος οὐκ ὄψεται φῶς.
KJVHe shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
JPSIt shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see the light. .
21
ThomsonA man who is in honour and hath not understanding, hath been compared to the brute beasts, and is like them.
BrentonMan that is in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.
GreekἌνθρωπος ἐν τιμῇ ὢν, οὐ συνῆκε, παρασυνεβλήθη τοῖς κτήνεσι τοῖς ἀνοήτοις, καὶ ὡμοιώθη αὐτοῖς.
KJVMan that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
JPSMan that is in honour understandeth not; He is like the beasts that perish.