Psalms 49:6-14

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^[a] forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had^[b] named lands after themselves.

12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.^[c]

14 They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.

Psalms 49:6-14 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Job 22:25; Psalms 73:12; Jeremiah 48:7; Job 31:24
• 2. S Psalms 10:3
• 3. S Job 36:19
• 4. S Numbers 35:31
• 5. Matthew 16:26
• 6. Psalms 22:29; Psalms 89:48
• 7. Psalms 16:10
• 8. Ecclesiastes 2:16
• 9. Psalms 92:6; Psalms 94:8
• 10. S Job 27:17
• 11. Ecclesiastes 2:18,21; Luke 12:20
• 12. Mark 5:3; Luke 8:27
• 13. Psalms 106:31
• 14. Genesis 4:17; S Deuteronomy 3:14
• 15. S Job 14:2
• 16. ver 20; 2 Peter 2:12
• 17. Luke 12:20
• 18. Jeremiah 43:11; Ezekiel 31:14
• 19. Numbers 16:30; S Job 21:13; Job 24:19; Psalms 9:17; Psalms 55:15
• 20. Isaiah 14:2; Daniel 7:18; Malachi 4:3; 1 Corinthians 6:2; Revelation 2:26

Footnotes

• [a]. Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew "In their thoughts their houses will remain"
• [b]. Or "generations," / "for they have"
• [c]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.