The Folly of Trust in Riches (William Ellison)

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• (Posted 2024-03-15)  CPDL #79551:         

Editor: William Ellison (submitted 2024-03-15).   Score information: Ledger, 54 pages, 1.02 MB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: The Folly of Trust in Riches
Composer: William Ellison
Lyricist: NRSVUE^{create page}
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Sacred song

Language: English
Instruments:

First published: 2024
Description: This is an original composition by William H Ellison during January, 2024 and is based on Psalm 49 with text from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition of the Bible. This composition is for SATB choir with full symphonic orchestra accompaniment (2 Flute with Piccolo, 2 Bb Clarinets, 2 Oboe, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns in F, 2 Bb Trumpets, 2 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Harp, SATB choir, 1st and 2nd Violins, Violas, Violoncellos, and Contrabasses).

Original text and translations

English text

Psalm 49
The Folly of Trust in Riches
01   Hear this, all you peoples;
   give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
02   both low and high,
   rich and poor together.
03   My mouth shall speak wisdom;
   the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
04   I will incline my ear to a proverb;
   I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
05   Why should I fear in times of trouble,

    when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
06   those who trust in their wealth

    and boast of the abundance of their riches?
07   Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life;

    there is no price one can give to God for it.
08   For the ransom of life is costly

    and can never suffice,
09   that one should live on forever

    and never see the Pit.
10   When we look at the wise, they die;

    fool and dolt perish together

    and leave their wealth to others.
11   Their graves are their homes forever,

    their dwelling places to all generations,

    though they named lands their own.
12   Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;

    they are like the animals that perish.
13   Such is the fate of the foolhardy,

    the end of those who are pleased with their lot.
                    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   Do not be afraid when some become rich,

    when the wealth of their houses increases.
17   For when they die they will carry nothing away;

    their wealth will not go down after them.
18   Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy

    —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
19   they will go to the company of their ancestors,

    who will never again see the light.
20   Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;

    they are like the animals that perish.