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Book of Psalms


Psalm 49

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.

King James Version

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

References and notes
1. King James Authorized Version
2. CLARKE'S COMMENTARY - PSALMS 49 - http:// www.god rules.net /library /clarke /clarke psa49.htm
3. Matthew Henry Bible Commentary - http:// www.eword today.com/ comments/ psalm/mh /psalm49 .htm
4. Seventh-day Bible Commentary - Vol. 3 pg. 749
5. SDA Bible Commentary - Vol. 3 pg. 629

SONG PREVIEW

Click on image for song preview of Psalm 49. The music was composed in 2010. The song features on the CD Psalms & Bible Songs Vol. 2.

 

TITLE

The title, To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah, has nothing particular in it; and the Versions say little about it. One of the descendants of the children of Korah might have been the author of it; but when or on what occasion it was made, cannot now be discovered. The author aimed to be obscure, and has succeeded; for it is very difficult to make out his meaning. It is so much in the style of the Book of Job, that one might believe they had the same author; and that this psalm might have made originally a part of that book.2



DIVISION OF PSALM 49

I. In the preface he proposes to awaken worldly people out of their security (v. 1-3) and to comfort himself and other godly people in a day of distress (v. 4, 5).
II. In the rest of the psalm,
1. He endeavours to convince sinners of their folly in doting upon the wealth of this world, by showing them
(1.) That they cannot, with all their wealth, save their friends from death (v. 6-9).
(2.) They cannot save themselves from death (v. 10).
(3.) They cannot secure to themselves a happiness in this world (v. 11, 12). Much less,
(4.) Can they secure to themselves a happiness in the other world (v. 14).
2. He endeavours to comfort himself and other good people,
(1.) Against the fear of death (v. 15).
(2.) Against the fear of the prospering power of wicked people (v. 16-20).3



DO THE RICH HAVE AN ADVANTAGE?

Psalm 49 contains an answer to the question, "Why do the rich appear to have the advantage in life?" The psalm teaches that wealth cannot postpone death, and that at death the rich are reduced to the same level as the poor. After an introduction of four verses, this didactic poem treats the transitoriness of man, with particular attention to the worldly rich (vs. 5-13); and then the consolation to be gained from the ultimate end of the righteous, which is eternal life, as contrasted with that of the wicked (vs. 14-20).4



RECITED IN WEEK OF MOURNING

Psalm 49 is recited in the modern orthodox Jewish home during the week of mourning following a death in the family.4

SELAH

A transliteration of the Heb. selah. This word appears 71 times in the Psalter: 17 times in Book One, 30 times in Book Two, 20 times in Book Three, and 4 times in Book Five. There are no occurrences in Book Four. Selah appears in only 39 of the 150 psalms; 28 of these psalms have for their superscription "To the chief Musician." The word is of uncertain meaning and has been variously interpreted to indicate a pause in the reading, an interlude for stringed instruments, a change of melody, emphasis (like "Amen"), etc. The LXX renders the term diapsalma ("interlude", suggesting a musical notice in the liturgical redaction of the psalm. Despite many conjectures, the word is of doubtful signification. "Selah" occurs within psalms of a distinctly hymnlike nature, and usually appears at the close of a section of thought.5

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