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Psalms 49

World English Bible

WEB

1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world, 2both low and high, rich and poor together. 3My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart will utter understanding. 4I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle on the harp. 5Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me? 6Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches— 7none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him. 8For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough, 9that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption. 10For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others. 11Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves. 12But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish. 13This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. Selah. 14They 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. 15But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah. 16Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; 17for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him. 18Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself— 19he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light. 20A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Psalms 49 is a profound meditation on the futility of trusting in wealth and the inevitability of death. The psalmist begins by calling all people, both rich and poor, to listen to his wisdom and understanding. He poses a rhetorical question about the value of riches, emphasizing that no one can redeem their life from the grave or pay God enough to escape death. This sets the tone for the chapter, highlighting the universal reality that death is the great equalizer, regardless of one’s material possessions (#wealth, #death).

The psalmist further illustrates that the wise and the foolish alike perish, leaving their wealth behind. He uses the imagery of sheep being led to the grave, where death becomes their shepherd. This stark imagery serves to remind us that earthly riches cannot secure our future or provide salvation. Instead, the psalmist points to the hope of resurrection, declaring that God will redeem the soul of the righteous from the power of the grave. In the end, the psalm encourages believers to place their trust in God rather than in fleeting riches, affirming that true security comes from a relationship with the Lord (#trust, #redemption).

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Referenced by

  1. Job 18:14v17Job 18:14 speaks of the wicked being torn from their tent, which parallels Psalm 49:17, where it is stated that the wicked will carry nothing away when they die.

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