> [[psalm-48|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-50|Next →]] --- # Psalm 49 ## Confidence in God Rather than in Riches 1 For the leader. A psalm of the Korahites. ^psalm-49-1 2 Hear this, all you peoples! ^psalm-49-2 Give ear, all who inhabit the world, 3 You of lowly birth or high estate, ^psalm-49-3 rich and poor together. 4 My mouth shall speak words of wisdom, ^psalm-49-4 my heart shall offer insights. 5 I will turn my ear to a riddle, ^psalm-49-5 expound my question on a lyre. ### I 6 Why should I fear in evil days, ^psalm-49-6 with the iniquity of my assailants surrounding me, 7 Of those who trust in their wealth ^psalm-49-7 and boast of their abundant riches? 8 No man can ransom even a brother, ^psalm-49-8 or pay to God his own ransom. 9 The redemption of his soul is costly; ^psalm-49-9 and he will pass away forever. 10 Will he live on forever, then, ^psalm-49-10 and never see the Pit of Corruption? 11 Indeed, he will see that the wise die, ^psalm-49-11 and the fool will perish together with the senseless, and they leave their wealth to others. 12 Their tombs are their homes forever, ^psalm-49-12 their dwellings through all generations, “They named countries after themselves” 13 —but man does not abide in splendor. ^psalm-49-13 He is like the beasts—they perish. ### II 14 This is the way of those who trust in themselves, ^psalm-49-14 and the end of those who take pleasure in their own mouth. *Selah* 15 Like a herd of sheep they will be put into Sheol, ^psalm-49-15 and Death will shepherd them. Straight to the grave they descend, where their form will waste away, Sheol will be their palace. 16 But God will redeem my life, ^psalm-49-16 will take me from the hand of Sheol. *Selah* 17 Do not fear when a man becomes rich, ^psalm-49-17 when the wealth of his house grows great. 18 At his death he will not take along anything, ^psalm-49-18 his glory will not go down after him. 19 During his life his soul uttered blessings; ^psalm-49-19 “They will praise you, for you do well for yourself.” 20 But he will join the company of his fathers, ^psalm-49-20 never again to see the light. 21 In his prime, man does not understand. ^psalm-49-21 He is like the beasts—they perish. \* (Psalm 49) The Psalm affirms confidence in God (cf. [Ps 23]; [27:1] – [6]; [62]) in the face of the apparent good fortune of the unjust rich, cf. [Ps 37]; [73]. Reliance on wealth is misplaced ([Ps 49:8] – [10]) for it is of no avail in the face of death ([Ps 49:18] – [20]). After inviting all to listen to this axiom of faith ([Ps 49:2] – [5]), the psalmist depicts the self-delusion of the ungodly ([Ps 49:6] – [13]), whose destiny is to die like ignorant beasts ([Ps 49:13], [18]; cf. [Prv 7:21] – [23]). Their wealth should occasion no alarm, for they will come to nought, whereas God will save the just ([Ps 49:14] – [20]). \* (49:1) Korahites: see note on [Ps 42:1]. \* (49:5) Riddle: the psalmist’s personal solution to the perennial biblical problem of the prosperity of the wicked. Question: parallel in meaning to problem; in wisdom literature it means the mysterious way of how the world works. \* (49:8) No man can ransom even a brother: an axiom. For the practice of redemption, cf. [Jb 6:21] – [23]. A play on the first Hebrew word of [Ps 49:8], [16] relates the two verses. \* (49:16) Will take me: the same Hebrew verb is used of God “taking up” a favored servant: Enoch in [Gn 5:24]; Elijah in [2 Kgs 2:11] – [12]; the righteous person in [Ps 73:24]. The verse apparently states the hope that God will rescue the faithful psalmist in the same manner. a. (49:4) [Ps 78:2]; ([[matthew-13|Mt 13]]:35]. b. (49:7) [Jb 31:24]. c. (49:8) [Prv 10:15]; [11:4]; ([[ezekiel-07|Ez 7]]:19]; ([[matthew-16|Mt 16]]:26]. d. (49:11) [Eccl 2:16]. e. (49:11) [Ps 39:7]; [[sirach-11|Sir 11]]:18 – [19]. f. (49:13) [Eccl 3:18] – [21]. g. (49:16) ([[psalm-16|Ps 16]]:10]; [86:13]; [103:4]; [116:8]. h. (49:18) [[sirach-11|Sir 11]]:18 – [19]; [Eccl 5:15]; [1 Tm 6:7]. i. (49:20) [Jb 10:21] – [22]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[psalm-48|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-50|Next →]]