Psalms 49:1-11

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 ^[a]Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,

2 both low and high, rich and poor alike:

3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.

4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:

5 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—

6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?

7 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—

8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—

9 so that they should live on forever and not see decay.

10 For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.

11 Their tombs will remain their houses^[b] forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had^[c] named lands after themselves.

Psalms 49:1-11 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.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 1:2
• 2. Psalms 78:1
• 3. S Psalms 33:8
• 4. Psalms 62:9
• 5. S Psalms 37:30
• 6. Psalms 119:130
• 7. Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6; Ezekiel 12:22; Ezekiel 16:44; Ezekiel 18:2-3; Luke 4:23
• 8. S 1 Samuel 16:16; Psalms 33:2
• 9. S Numbers 12:8
• 10. Psalms 23:4; Psalms 27:1
• 11. S Job 22:25; Psalms 73:12; Jeremiah 48:7; Job 31:24
• 12. S Psalms 10:3
• 13. S Job 36:19
• 14. S Numbers 35:31
• 15. Matthew 16:26
• 16. Psalms 22:29; Psalms 89:48
• 17. Psalms 16:10
• 18. Ecclesiastes 2:16
• 19. Psalms 92:6; Psalms 94:8
• 20. S Job 27:17
• 21. Ecclesiastes 2:18,21; Luke 12:20
• 22. Mark 5:3; Luke 8:27
• 23. Psalms 106:31
• 24. Genesis 4:17; S Deuteronomy 3:14

Footnotes

• [a]. In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.
• [b]. Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew "In their thoughts their houses will remain"
• [c]. Or "generations," / "for they have"