Psalms 49:2-12

2 High and low, rich and poor—listen!

3 For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight.

4 I listen carefully to many proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.

5 Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me?

6 They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches.

7 Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.

8 Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough

9 to live forever and never see the grave.

10 Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind.

11 The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay forever. They may name their estates after themselves,

12 but their fame will not last. They will die, just like animals.

Psalms 49:2-12 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

• [a]. Some Hebrew manuscripts read no one can redeem the life of another.
• [b]. As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads Their inward [thought].