1 [[To the chief Musician, H5329 A Psalm H4210 for the sons H1121 of Korah.]] H7141 Hear H8085 this, all ye people; H5971 give ear, H238 all ye inhabitants H3427 of the world: H2465
2 Both low H1121 H120 and high, H1121 H376 rich H6223 and poor, H34 together. H3162
3 My mouth H6310 shall speak H1696 of wisdom; H2454 and the meditation H1900 of my heart H3820 shall be of understanding. H8394
4 I will incline H5186 mine ear H241 to a parable: H4912 I will open H6605 my dark saying H2420 upon the harp. H3658
5 Wherefore should I fear H3372 in the days H3117 of evil, H7451 when the iniquity H5771 of my heels H6120 shall compass H5437 me about?
6 They that trust H982 in their wealth, H2428 and boast H1984 themselves in the multitude H7230 of their riches; H6239
7 None of them can H376 by any means H6299 redeem H6299 his brother, H251 nor give H5414 to God H430 a ransom H3724 for him:
8 (For the redemption H6306 of their soul H5315 is precious, H3365 and it ceaseth H2308 for ever:) H5769
9 That he should still live H2421 for ever, H5331 and not see H7200 corruption. H7845
10 For he seeth H7200 that wise men H2450 die, H4191 likewise H3162 the fool H3684 and the brutish person H1198 perish, H6 and leave H5800 their wealth H2428 to others. H312
11 Their inward H7130 thought is, that their houses H1004 shall continue for ever, H5769 and their dwelling H4908 places to all H1755 generations; H1755 they call H7121 their lands H127 after their own names. H8034
12 Nevertheless man H120 being in honour H3366 abideth H3885 not: he is like H4911 the beasts H929 that perish. H1820
13 This their way H1870 is their folly: H3689 yet their posterity H310 approve H7521 their sayings. H6310 Selah. H5542
14 Like sheep H6629 they are laid H8371 in the grave; H7585 death H4194 shall feed H7462 on them; and the upright H3477 shall have dominion H7287 over them in the morning; H1242 and their beauty H6697 H6736 shall consume H1086 in the grave H7585 from their dwelling. H2073
15 But God H430 will redeem H6299 my soul H5315 from the power H3027 of the grave: H7585 for he shall receive H3947 me. Selah. H5542
16 Be not thou afraid H3372 when one H376 is made rich, H6238 when the glory H3519 of his house H1004 is increased; H7235
17 For when he dieth H4194 he shall carry nothing away: H3947 his glory H3519 shall not descend H3381 after H310 him.
18 Though while he lived H2416 he blessed H1288 his soul: H5315 and men will praise H3034 thee, when thou doest well H3190 to thyself.
19 He shall go H935 to the generation H1755 of his fathers; H1 they shall never H3808 H5331 see H7200 light. H216
20 Man H120 that is in honour, H3366 and understandeth H995 not, is like H4911 the beasts H929 that perish. H1820
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 49
Commentary on Psalms 49 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 49
Ps 49:1-20. This Psalm instructs and consoles. It teaches that earthly advantages are not reliable for permanent happiness, and that, however prosperous worldly men may be for a time, their ultimate destiny is ruin, while the pious are safe in God's care.
1-3. All are called to hear what interests all.
world—literally, "duration of life," the present time.
4. incline—to hear attentively (Ps 17:6; 31:2).
parable—In Hebrew and Greek "parable" and "proverb" are translations of the same word. It denotes a comparison, or form of speech, which under one image includes many, and is expressive of a general truth capable of various illustrations. Hence it may be used for the illustration itself. For the former sense, "proverb" (that is, one word for several) is the usual English term, and for the latter, in which comparison is prominent, "parable" (that is, one thing laid by another). The distinction is not always observed, since here, and in Ps 78:2; "proverb" would better express the style of the composition (compare also Pr 26:7, 9; Hab 2:6; Joh 16:25, 29). Such forms of speech are often very figurative and also obscure (compare Mt 13:12-15). Hence the use of the parallel word—
dark saying—or, "riddle" (compare Eze 17:2).
open—is to explain.
upon the harp—the accompaniment for a lyric.
5. iniquity—or, "calamity" (Ps 40:12).
of my heels—literally "my supplanters" (Ge 27:36), or oppressors: "I am surrounded by the evils they inflict."
6. They are vainglorious.
7-9. yet unable to save themselves or others.
8. it ceaseth for ever—that is, the ransom fails, the price is too precious, costly.
9. corruption—literally, "pit," or, "grave," thus showing that "soul" is used for "life" [Ps 49:8].
10. For he seeth—that is, corruption; then follows the illustration.
wise … fool—(Ps 14:1; Pr 1:32; 10:1).
likewise—alike altogether—(Ps 4:8)—die—all meet the same fate.
11. Still infatuated and flattered with hopes of perpetuity, they call their lands, or "celebrate their names on account of (their) lands."
12. Contrasted with this vanity is their frailty. However honored, man
abideth not—literally, "lodgeth not," remains not till morning, but suddenly perishes as (wild) beasts, whose lives are taken without warning.
13. Though their way is folly, others follow the same course of life.
14. Like sheep—(compare Ps 49:12) unwittingly, they
are laid—or, "put," &c.
death shall feed on—or, better, "shall rule"
them—as a shepherd (compare "feed," Ps 28:9, Margin).
have dominion over—or, "subdue"
them in the morning—suddenly, or in their turn.
their beauty—literally, "form" or shape.
shall consume—literally, "is for the consumption," that is, of the grave.
from their dwelling—literally, "from their home (they go) to it," that is, the grave.
15. The pious, delivered from "the power of the grave."
power—literally, "the hand," of death, are taken under God's care.
16-19. applies this instruction. Be not anxious (Ps 37:1, &c.), since death cuts off the prosperous wicked whom you dread.
18. Though … lived, &c.—literally, "For in his life he blessed his soul," or, "himself" (Lu 12:19, 16:25); yet (Ps 49:19); he has had his portion.
men will praise … thyself—Flatterers enhance the rich fool's self-complacency; the form of address to him strengthens the emphasis of the sentiment.
20. (Compare Ps 49:12). The folly is more distinctly expressed by "understandeth not," substituted for "abideth not."