Psalms 49:4-14

4 I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.

5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, When iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

6 Those who trust in their wealth, And boast in the multitude of their riches --

7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give God a ransom for him.

8 For the redemption of their life is costly, No payment is ever enough,

9 That he should live on forever, That he should not see corruption.

10 For he sees that wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless perish, And leave their wealth to others.

11 Their inward thought is, that their houses will endure forever, And their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

12 But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish.

13 This is the destiny of those who are foolish, And of those who approve their sayings. Selah.

14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, Far from their mansion.

Psalms 49:4-14 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.