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Psalm 49. Audite haec, omnes.

From the Book of Divine Worship - The Psalter or Psalms of David - Contemporary - Ninth Day - Evening Prayer.
  1. Hear this, all you peoples; hearken, all you who dwell in the world, *
    you of high degree and low, rich and poor together.
  2. My mouth shall speak of wisdom, *
    and my heart shall meditate on understanding.
  3. I will incline my ear to a proverb *
    and set forth my riddle upon the harp.
  4. Why should I be afraid in evil days, *
    when the wickedness of those at my heels surrounds me,
  5. The wickedness of those who put their trust in their goods, *
    and boast of their great riches?
  6. We can never ransom ourselves, *
    or deliver to God the price of our life;
  7. For the ransom of our life is so great, *
    that we should never have enough to pay it,
  8. In order to live for ever and ever, *
    and never see the grave.
  9. For we see that the wise die also; like the dull and stupid they perish *
    and leave their wealth to those who come after them.
  10. Their graves shall be their homes for ever, their dwelling places from generation to generation, *
    though they call the lands after their own names.
  11. Even though honored, they cannot live for ever; *
    they are like the beasts that perish.
  12. Such is the way of those who foolishly trust in themselves, *
    and the end of those who delight in their own words.
  13. Like a flock of sheep they are destined to die; Death is their shepherd; *
    they go down straightway to the grave.
  14. Their form shall waste away, *
    and the land of the dead shall be their home.
  15. But God will ransom my life; *
    he will snatch me from the grasp of death.
  16. Do not be envious when some become rich, *
    or when the grandeur of their house increases;
  17. For they will carry nothing away at their death, *
    nor will their grandeur follow them.
  18. Though they thought highly of themselves while they lived, *
    and were praised for their success,
  19. They shall join the company of their forebears, *
    who will never see the light again.
  20. Those who are honored, but have no understanding, *
    are like the beasts that perish.
Notes:
* An asterisk divides a verse of a Psalm in two portions for responsive reading
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