Psalms 49:6-16

6 (48-7) They that trust in their own strength, and glory in the multitude of their riches,

7 (48-8) No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: he shall not give to God his ransom,

8 (48-9) Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: and shall labour for ever,

9 (48-10) And shall still live unto the end.

10 (48-11) He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying: the senseless and the fool shall perish together: And they shall leave their riches to strangers:

11 (48-12) And their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever. Their dwelling places to all generations: they have called their lands by their names.

12 (48-13) And man when he was in honour did not understand; he is compared to senseless beasts, and is become like to them.

13 (48-14) This way of theirs is a stumblingblock to them: and afterwards they shall delight in their mouth.

14 (48-15) They are laid in hell like sheep: death shall feed upon them. And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their help shall decay in hell from their glory.

15 (48-16) But God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, when he shall receive me.

16 (48-17) Be not thou afraid, when a man shall be made rick, and when the glory of his house shall be increased.

Psalms 49:6-16 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.