1 Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
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
1 Hear this, all ye peoples; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high, Rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; And the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, When iniquity at my heels compasseth me about?
6 They that trust in their wealth, And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7 None `of them' can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him;
8 (For the redemption of their life is costly, And it faileth for ever;)
9 That he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption.
10 For he shall see it. Wise men die; The fool and the brutish alike perish, And leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inward thought is, `that' their houses `shall continue' for ever, `And' their dwelling-places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names.
12 But man `being' in honor abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way is their folly: Yet after them men approve their sayings. Selah
14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, That there be no habitation for it.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; For he will receive me. Selah
16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased.
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul (And men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself,)
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see the light.
20 Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, Is like the beasts that perish. Psalm 50 A Psalm of Asaph.
1 To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.
2 Both low and high, together rich and needy.
3 My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart `are' things of understanding.
4 I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:
5 Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.
6 Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.
7 A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.
8 And precious `is' the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased -- to the age.
9 And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.
10 For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.
11 Their heart `is': Their houses `are' to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.
12 And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.
13 This their way `is' folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. Selah.
14 As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form `is' for consumption. Sheol `is' a dwelling for him.
15 Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. Selah.
16 Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,
17 For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.
18 For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)
19 It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.
20 Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!
1 {To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.} Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:
2 Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding:
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? --
6 They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ...
7 None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,
8 (For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever,)
9 That he should still live perpetually, [and] not see corruption.
10 For he seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inward thought is, that their houses are for ever,their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the lands after their own names.
12 Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings. Selah.
14 Like sheep are they laid in Sheol: Death feedeth on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their comeliness shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for them.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol: for he will receive me. Selah.
16 Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased:
17 For when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though he blessed his soul in his lifetime, -- and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself, --
19 It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.
20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
1 > Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high, Rich and poor together.
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, When iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
6 Those who trust in their wealth, And boast in the multitude of their riches--
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give God a ransom for him.
8 For the redemption of their life is costly, No payment is ever enough,
9 That he should live on forever, That he should not see corruption.
10 For he sees that wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless perish, And leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, And their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
12 But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish.
13 This is the destiny of those who are foolish, And of those who approve their sayings. Selah.
14 They 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.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For he will receive me. Selah.
16 Don't be afraid when a man is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased.
17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul-- And men praise you when you do well for yourself--
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
20 A man who has riches without understanding, Is like the animals that perish.
1 <Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.> Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.
2 High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.
3 From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.
4 I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.
5 What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?
6 Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.
7 Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;
8 (Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)
9 So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.
10 For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.
11 The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.
12 But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
13 This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah.)
14 Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever.
15 But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.)
16 Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;
17 For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
18 Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,
19 He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.
20 Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
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."