Psalms 49

Misplaced Trust in Wealth

For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 Hear this, all you peoples;

listen, all who inhabit the world,  * 49:1 Ps 78:1; Mc 1:2

2 both low and high,

rich and poor together.  * 49:2 Ps 62:9

3 My mouth speaks wisdom;

my heart’s meditation brings understanding.  * 49:3 Ps 37:30

4 I turn my ear to a proverb;

I explain my riddle with a lyre.  * 49:4 Nm 12:8; Mt 13:35

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble?

The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.  * 49:5 Ps 23:4; 27:1

6 They trust in their wealth

and boast of their abundant riches.  * 49:6 Jb 31:24; Ps 52:7; Pr 11:28

7 Yet these cannot redeem a person  * 49:7 Or Certainly he cannot redeem himself, or Yet he cannot redeem a brother

or pay his ransom to God  * 49:7 Jb 36:18–19; Mt 25:8–9  —

8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly,

one should forever stop trying  * 49:8 Or costly, it will cease forever,* 49:8 Mt 16:26  —

9 so that he may live forever

and not see the Pit.  * 49:9 Jb 33:28; Ps 16:10

10 For one can see that the wise die;

the foolish and stupid also pass away.  * 49:10 Ec 2:16

Then they leave their wealth to others.  * 49:10 Ps 39:6; Ec 2:18–19; Lk 12:20

11 Their graves are their permanent homes,  * 49:11 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads Their inner thought is that their houses are eternal

their dwellings from generation to generation,

though they have named estates after themselves.  * 49:11 Ps 5:9; 10:6

12 But despite his assets,  * 49:12 Or honor mankind will not last;

he is like the animals that perish.  * 49:12 Ec 3:19

13 This is the way of those who are arrogant,

and of their followers,

who approve of their words.  * 49:13 Lit and after them with their mouth they were pleased,* 49:13 Ps 31:23; Pr 16:18; 21:24Selah

14 Like sheep they are headed for Sheol;

Death will shepherd them.

The upright will rule over them in the morning,  * 49:14 Rv 2:26

and their form will waste away in Sheol,  * 49:14 Hb obscure

far from their lofty abode.  * 49:14 Jb 24:19; Ps 9:17

15 But God will redeem me

from the power of Sheol,

for he will take me.  * 49:15 Ps 16:10; 56:13; Hs 13:14Selah

16 Do not be afraid when a person gets rich,

when the wealth  * 49:16 Or glory, also in v. 17 of his house increases.  * 49:16 Ps 37:7

17 For when he dies, he will take nothing at all;

his wealth will not follow him down.  * 49:17 Jb 27:19; Ps 17:14; 1Tm 6:7

18 Though he blesses himself during his lifetime —

and you are acclaimed when you do well for yourself  * 49:18 Dt 29:19; Ps 10:3,6  —

19 he will go to the generation of his ancestors;

they will never see the light.  * 49:19 Gn 15:15; Jb 33:30; Ps 56:13

20 Mankind, with his assets

but without understanding,

is like the animals that perish.  * 49:20 Ec 3:19