Psalm 46
God is our protection and our strength. He always helps in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid if the earth shakes, or if the mountains shake at the raging sea. There is a river which brings joy to the city of God. This is the holy place where God Most High lives. God is in that city, and so it will not be shaken. God will help her at dawn. Nations tremble, and kingdoms shake. God shouts, and the earth crumbles. The Lord of heaven's armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our protection. Come and see what the Lord has done. HE has done amazing things on the earth. He stops wars everywhere on the earth. He breaks all bows and spears and burns up the chariots with fire. God says, "Be quiet and know that I am God. I will be supreme over all the nations. I will be supreme in the earth." The Lord of heaven's armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our protection.
Psalm 47
Clap your hands, all you people. Shout to God with joy. The Lord Most High is wonderful. He is the great King over all the earth! He defeated nations for us and put them under our contol. He chose the land we would inherit. We are the children of Jacob, whom he loved. God has risen with a shout of joy. The Lord has risen as the trumpets sounded. Sing praises to God. Sing praises. Sing praises to our King. Sing praises. God is King of all the earth. So sing a song of praise to him. God is King over the nations. God sits on his holy throne. The leaders of the nations meet with the people of the God of Abraham. Even the leaders of the earth belong to God. He is supreme.
Psalm 48
The Lord is great; he should be praised in the city of our God, on his holy mountain. It is high and beautiful. It brings joy to the whole world. Mount Zion is like the high mountains of the north. It is the city of the Great Kimg. God is within its palaces. He is known as its protection. Kings joined together and came together to attack the city. But when they saw it, they were amazd. They ran away in fear. Fear took hold of the. They hurt like a woman having a baby. You destroyed the large trading ships with an east wind. First we heard. And now we have seen that God will always keep his city safe. It is the city of the Lord of heaven's armies, the city of our God. God, we come into your Temple. There we think about your love. God, your name is known everywhere. Everywhere on earth people praise you. Your right hand is full of goodness. Mount Zion is happy. All the towns of Judah rejoice because your decisions are fair. Walk around Jerusalem and count its towers. Notice how strong they are. Look at the palaces. Then you will be able to tell your children about them. This God is our God forever and ever. He will guide us from now on.
Psalm 49
Listen to this, all you nations. Listen, all you who live on earth. Listen, both great and small, rich and poor together. What I say is wise. My heart speaks with understanding. I will pay attention to a wise saying. I will explain my riddle on the harp. Why should I be afraid of bad days? Why should I fear when ecil men surround me? They trust in their money. They brag about hteir riches. No one can buy back the life of another person. No one can buy back the life of another person. No one can pay God for his own life. The price of a llife is high. No payment is ever enough. Do people live forever? Don't they all face death? See, even wise men die. Fools and stupid people also die. They leave their wealth to others. Their graves will always be their homes. They will live there from now on, even though they named places after themselves. Even rich people do not live forever. Like the animals, people die. This is whay will happen to people who trust in themselves. And this will happen to their followers who believe them. Like sheep, they must die. And death will be their shepherd. Honest people will rule over them in the morning. Their bodies will rot in a grave far from home. But God will save my life. He will take me from the grave. Don't be afraid of a rich man because his house is more beautiful. He won't take anything to the grave. His wealth won't die with him. He was praised when he has alive. (And people may praise you when you succeed.) But he will ho to where his ancestors are. He will never see light again. Rich people with no understanding are just like animals that die.
Psalm 50
The God of gods, the Lord, speaks. He calls the earth from the rising to the setting sun. God shines from Jerusalem, whose beauty is perfect. Our God comes, and he will not be silent. A fire burns in front of him, and a storm surrounds him. He calls to the sky and to the earth to see him judge his people. He says, "You who worship me, gather around. You have made an agreement with me, using a sacrifice." God is the judge. Even the skies say he is right. God says, "My people, listen to me. Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. I do not scold you for your sacrifices. You always bring me your burnt offerings. But I do not need the bulls from your stalls or the goats from your pens. Every animal of the forest is already mine. The cattle on a thousand hills are mine. I know every bird on the mountains. Every living thing in the fields is mine. I know every bird on the mountains. Every living thing in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you. The earth and everything on it are mine. I don't eat the meat of bulls or drinks the blood of goats. Give an offering to show thanks to God. Give God Most High what you have promised. Call to me in times of trouble. I will save you, and you will honor me." But God says to the wicked people, "Why do you talk about my lawas? Why do you mention my agreement? You hate my teachings. You turn your back on what I say. When you see a thief, you join him. You take part in adultery. You don't stop your mouth from speaking evil. Your tongue makes up lies. You speak against your brother. You lie about your mother's son. I have kept quiet while you did these things. So you thought I was just like you. But I will scold you. I will accuse you to your face. Think about this, you people who forget God. Otherwise, I will tear you apart, and no one will save you. Those people honor me who give me offerings to show thanks. And I, God, will save those who do that."
