Psalms 49:1-10

Misplaced Trust in Wealth

1

For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit the world,
2 both low and high,[a] rich and poor together.
3 My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart's meditation [brings] understanding.
4 I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle with a lyre.
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble? The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.
6 They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches.
7 Yet these cannot redeem a person[b] or pay his ransom to God-
8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should forever stop trying[c]-
9 so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.
10 For one can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless also pass away. Then they leave their wealth to others.

Psalms 49:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Aben Ezra says this psalm is a very excellent one, since in it is explained the Light of the world to come, and of the rational and immortal soul; and Kimchi is of opinion that it respects both this world and that which is to come: and indeed it treats of the vanity of trusting in riches: of the insufficiency of them for the redemption of the soul; of the short continuance of worldly honour and substance; of the certainty of death, and of the resurrection of the dead. And the design of it is to expose the folly of trusting in uncertain riches, and to comfort the people of God under the want of them.

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Lit both sons of Adam and sons of man
  • [b]. Or Certainly he cannot redeem himself, or Yet he cannot redeem a brother
  • [c]. Or costly, it will cease forever
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