Saturday, February 18, 2012

Wisdom literature addressed to all mankind

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For PsalmChallenge, inspired and hosted by Robert in Athens, here is Psalm 49.
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1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor together!
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. 4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, 6 men who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? 7 Truly no man can ransom himself, or give to God the price of his life, 8 for the ransom of his life is costly, and can never suffice, 9 that he should continue to live on for ever, and never see the Pit. 10 Yea, he shall see that even the wise die, the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their graves are their homes for ever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own. 12 Man cannot abide in his pomp, he is like the beasts that perish. 13 This is the fate of those who have foolish confidence, the end of those who are pleased with their portion. [Selah] 14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away; Sheol shall be their home.
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. [Selah]

16 Be not afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. 17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. 18 Though, while he lives, he counts himself happy, and though a man gets praise when he does well for himself, 19 he will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never more see the light. 20 Man cannot abide in his pomp, he is like the beasts that perish.
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Today's translation is the RSV, 1952. Hebrew original is here.
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Photos:
1. "David menagen" by Gavriel Ben-Haim, was at Mamilla mall exhibit.

2. A tombstone in the Christian cemetery in Jerusalem's German Colony.
More exactly, the Hebrew means
"But God will redeem my life from the clutches of Sheol, for He will take me."
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10 comments:

  1. always enjoy your photo interpretations of each weeks Psalm! The first photo...is spot on!

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  2. One is able to feel strength of the letters.


    Thank you very much for your kind participation ! Please have a good Sunday and please join again soon.

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  3. I am at lost to connect what the Psalms, but I like the wisdom they teach.

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  4. Perfect pictures to this psalm. No 2 is very strong to me..

    Hope you have a blessed Sunday Dina:-)

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  5. Interesting choice of pictures, but I like the words more than the sculpture.

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  6. There seems to be a lot of interesting sculpture in Jerusalem - I like your past posts that have featured other statuary.

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