Psalm 49:3

3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring forth understanding.

Psalm 49:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 49:3

My mouth shall speak of wisdom
Or "wisdoms" ^F13; of Christ, who is so called, ( Proverbs 1:20 ) ( 9:1 ) . He being as a divine Person the wisdom of God, and the only wise God; and having all the treasures of wisdom in him, as man and Mediator: of him the prophet spake, and of him the apostles and all Gospel ministers speak; of the glories of his Person, of the fulness of his grace, and of his wonderful works; especially of that of redemption and salvation by him, in which there is an abounding of wisdom and prudence. Or the Gospel may be meant, and all the truths of it, in which there is a glorious display of divine wisdom; it is the wisdom of God in a mystery; hidden and ancient wisdom; and which, when truly understood, makes a man wise unto salvation; see ( 1 Corinthians 2:6 1 Corinthians 2:7 ) ;

and the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding;
or "understandings" ^F14; and this is in order to the former; what the heart meditates the mouth speaks. If the heart meditates on understanding, the mouth will speak of wisdom; and a man should think before he speaks, especially the ministers of the Gospel: they ought to meditate on the word of God, the Gospel, and the truths of it, that their profiling may appear to all; that they may understand divine things themselves, and deliver them out to the understanding of others: their concern should be, that through meditation they may have a good treasure of wisdom and knowledge in their hearts, that out of it they may bring forth things pleasant and profitable unto others.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 (twmkx) "sapientias", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis.
F14 (twnwbt) "intelligentias", Pagninus, Montanus.

Psalm 49:3 In-Context

1 Hear these words, all ye nations, hearken, all ye that dwell upon the earth:

2 both the sons of mean men, and sons of great men; the rich and poor man together.

3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring forth understanding.

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.

5 Wherefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.

6 They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—

7 A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,

8 or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labour for ever,

9 and live to the end, so that he should not see corruption.

10 When he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.

11 And their sepulchres are their houses for ever, even their tabernacles to all generations: they have called their lands after their own names.

12 And man being in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.

13 This their way is an offence to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. Pause.

14 They have laid them as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory.

15 But God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. Pause.

16 Fear not when a man is enriched, and when the glory of his house is increased.

17 For he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.

18 For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to thee when thou dost well to him.

19 Yet he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.

20 Man that is in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.