ISV(i)
1 A song: Lyrics by the Sons of Korah.
Zion, City of God Great is the LORD! For he is to be praised greatly, even in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2 Beautifully situated, the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion towards the north, the city of the great King.
3 Within her citadels God is known as a place of refuge.
4 Behold, when the kings assembled together, when they traveled together,
5 they looked and were awestruck; they became afraid and ran away.
6 Trembling seized them there, pains like those of a woman in labor,
7 as when an east wind destroyed the ships of Tarshish.
8 Just as we have heard, so have we seen; in the city of the LORD of the heavenly armies— even in the city of our God— God will establish her forever. Interlude
9 God, we have meditated on your gracious love in the midst of your Temple.
10 God, according to your name, so is your praise to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion will be glad; the towns of Judah will rejoice because of your judgments.
12 March around Zion; encircle her; count her towers.
13 Take note of her ramparts; investigate her citadels; that you may speak about them to the next generation.
14 For this God is our God forever and ever. He will guide us until death.
49 1To the Director: A song by the Sons of Korah.
The Destiny of the Wicked and the Upright Listen to this, all you people! Pay attention, all you who live in the world,
2 both average people and those of means, the rich and the poor together.
3 My mouth will speak wisely, and I will understand what I think about.
4 I will focus my attention on a proverb; I will use the harp to expound my riddle.
5 Why should I be afraid when evil days come my way, when the wickedness of those who deceive me surrounds me—
6 those who put confidence in their wealth and boast about their great riches?
7 No man can redeem the life of another, nor can he give to God a sufficient payment for him—
8 for it would cost too much to redeem his life, and the payments would go on forever—
9 that he should go on living and not see corruption.
10 Indeed, he will see wise people die; the stupid and the senseless will meet their doom and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inner thoughts are on their homes forever; their dwellings from generation to generation. They even name their lands after themselves.
12 But humanity cannot last, despite its conceit; it will pass away just like the animals.
13 This is the fate of those who are foolish and of those who correct their words after they speak. Interlude
14 Like sheep, they are destined for the realm of the dead, with death as their shepherd. The upright will have dominion over them in the morning; their strength will be consumed in the afterlife, so that they have no home.
15 God will truly redeem me from the power of Sheol. He will surely receive me! Interlude
16 Don’t be afraid when someone gets rich, when the glory of his household increases.
17 When he dies, he will not be able to take it all with him— his possessions will not follow him to the grave,
18 although he considers himself blessed while he’s alive. Though people praise you for doing well,
19 you will end up like your ancestors’ generation, never again to see the light of day!
20 Humanity, despite its conceit, does not understand that it will perish, just like the animals.
50 1A song of Asaph.
The Acceptable Sacrifice God, the LORD, has spoken. He has summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting place.
2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shined forth.
3 Our God has appeared and he has not been silent; a devouring fire blazed before him, and a mighty storm swirled around him.
4 He summoned the heavens above and the earth below, to sit in judgment on his people.
5 “Assemble before me, my saints, who have entered into my covenant by sacrifice.”
6 The heavens revealed his justice, for God is himself the judge. Interlude
7 “Listen, my people, for I am making a pronouncement: Israel, I, God, your God, am testifying against you.
8 I do not rebuke you because of your sacrifices; indeed, your burnt offerings are continuously before me.
9 I will no longer accept a sacrificial bull from your household; nor goats from your pens.
10 Indeed, every animal of the forest is mine, even the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds in the mountains; indeed, everything that moves in the field is mine.
12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is mine along with everything in it.
13 Why should I eat the flesh of oxen or drink the blood of goats?
Zion, City of God
49 1
The Destiny of the Wicked and the Upright
50 1
The Acceptable Sacrifice