Psalm 49 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 49:12, 49:15, 49:19
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Psalm 49
Wealth cannot ransom life
Verse 49:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:1] For the director. Of the sons of Korah. A psalm.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:1] For the end. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The performance heading and ancient name form differ. Familiar English names are used where the referent is the same.
Verse 49:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:2] Hear this, all peoples;
give ear, all who inhabit the world,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:2] Hear these things, all nations;
give ear, all who inhabit the world,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The universal invitation agrees.
Verse 49:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:3] both the children of humankind and the children of men,
rich and needy together.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:3] both the earthborn and the sons of humankind,
rich and poor together.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek explicitly calls the first group earthborn; Hebrew uses two terms for humanity.
Verse 49:4 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:4] My mouth will speak wisdoms,
and my heart's meditation will be understanding.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:4] My mouth will speak wisdom,
and my heart's meditation understanding.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew plural wisdoms becomes Greek singular wisdom.
Verse 49:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:5] I will incline my ear to a proverb;
with a lyre I will open my riddle.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:5] I will incline my ear to a parable;
with a psaltery I will open my riddle.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The puzzling instruction and stringed accompaniment agree.
Verse 49:6 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:6] Why should I fear in evil days?
The iniquity of my heels surrounds me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:6] Why do I fear in an evil day?
The lawlessness of my heel will surround me.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both retain the heel image. Reception: Rashi explains sins trodden underfoot as seemingly minor offenses treated lightly; Augustine urges rejecting evil at its beginning before one slips (RASHI-PS49, 49:5–6; AUG-PS49, First Part §6).
Verse 49:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:7] Those who trust in their possessions
and boast in the abundance of their wealth,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:7] Those trusting in their strength
and boasting in the abundance of their wealth,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew possessions and Greek strength differ in the first line.
Verse 49:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:8] a person cannot possibly redeem a brother
or give God his ransom,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:8] A brother does not redeem; will a person redeem?
He will not give God his atonement price
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek contrasts a nonredeeming brother with a question about a person. Reception: Augustine identifies the brother as Christ and argues that no merely human redeemer can replace Him; this identification is kept in reception rather than inserted into the Greek noun (AUG-PS49, First Part §8).
Verse 49:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:9] for the ransom of their soul is too costly;
it must be relinquished forever,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:9] and the price of the redemption of his soul.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek continues the preceding denial of payment; Hebrew describes the excessive cost and abandonment. The Greek cessation clause occurs in its following verse.
Verse 49:10 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:10] that he should live on forever
and not see the Pit.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:10] And he ceased forever and will live to the end,
for he will not see corruption when he sees wise people dying.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek includes cessation corresponding to Hebrew 49:9 and wise people dying from 49:11. Its printed verb is ekopasen, ceased; Augustine's accessed English exposition instead quotes labored at this point. The publisher wording is retained pending source review (AUG-PS49, First Part §§10–11).
Verse 49:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:11] For he sees that wise people die;
the fool and the senseless perish together
and leave their possessions to others.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:11] The foolish and senseless will perish together
and leave their wealth to strangers.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek places the first Hebrew clause in its preceding verse and specifies strangers rather than others.
Verse 49:12 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:12] Their inward thought is that their houses last forever,
their dwellings from generation to generation;
they call lands by their own names.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:12] Their tombs are their houses forever,
their dwellings from generation to generation;
they invoked their names upon their lands.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew describes an inward expectation of permanent houses; Greek explicitly identifies the permanent houses as tombs. Rashi reads Hebrew as plans for enduring houses and memorial names (RASHI-PS49, 49:12).
Verse 49:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:13] But a person in honor does not remain;
he is compared to beasts made silent.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:13] A person, though in honor, did not understand;
he was compared to senseless beasts and made like them.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew denies remaining in honor; Greek denies understanding. Made silent follows Rashi's interpretation of Hebrew nidmu (RASHI-PS49, 49:13).
Verse 49:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:14] This is their way, folly belonging to them;
those coming after them recount it with their mouths. Selah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:14] This way of theirs is a stumbling block to them,
and afterward they will take delight with their mouth. Diapsalma.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew's later narrators follow Rashi; later people approving their words is another reading. Greek instead describes subsequent delight by the same people (RASHI-PS49, 49:14).
Verse 49:15 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:15] Like sheep they are set for Sheol; death devours them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning;
their form will outlast Sheol as its dwelling place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:15] Like sheep they were placed in Hades; death shepherds them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning,
and their help will grow old in Hades, away from their glory.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew form follows the verified read form tsuram, beside written tsiram. Outlasting Sheol and devouring follow Rashi; consumption of their form by Sheol is an alternative construal. Greek instead speaks of help wearing out and death shepherding (RASHI-PS49, 49:15).
Verse 49:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:16] But God will redeem my soul from Sheol's hand,
for He will take me. Selah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:16] But God will redeem my soul from Hades' hand
when He receives me. Diapsalma.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew grounds redemption in God's taking; Greek gives its time.
Verse 49:17 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:17] Do not fear when a person becomes rich,
when the glory of his house increases.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:17] Do not fear when a person grows rich
and when the glory of his house increases.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The warning against awe of wealth agrees.
Verse 49:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:18] For at his death he will take nothing;
his glory will not descend after him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:18] For when he dies he will not take everything,
nor will his glory descend with him.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew's idiomatic denial is rendered nothing; Greek literally denies taking everything. Both deny the descent of worldly glory.
Verse 49:19 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:19] Though he blesses his soul during his lifetime,
people will praise you when you do well for yourself.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:19] For his soul will be blessed during his lifetime;
he will thank you when you do good to him.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew's self-blessing and others' praise for benefiting oneself become Greek's passive blessing and gratitude for another's kindness.
Verse 49:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:20] It will come to the generation of his fathers;
they will never see light.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:20] He will enter as far as the generation of his fathers;
he will never see light.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew's first verb can continue the feminine soul, while the denial of light is plural; Greek's denial remains singular.
Verse 49:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[49:21] A person in honor who does not understand
is compared to beasts made silent.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[48:21] A person, though in honor, did not understand;
he was compared to senseless beasts and made like them.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew's second refrain now specifies lack of understanding; Greek repeats its earlier refrain. The differing animal descriptions remain.