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Psalms 49

BSB·20 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Hearשִׁמְעוּ־šim·‘ū- — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study → thisזֹ֭אתzōṯ — This, that; demonstrative pronounH2063 — Full Word Study →, all you peoplesכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study →; listenהַ֝אֲזִ֗ינוּha·’ă·zî·nū — to listen, give ear, hear attentivelyH238 — Full Word Study →, allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → inhabitantsיֹ֥שְׁבֵיyō·šə·ḇê — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → of the worldחָֽלֶד׃ḥā·leḏ — lifetime, age, world, temporal durationH2465 — Full Word Study →, 2bothגַּם־gam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → low and highבְּנֵ֣יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study →, richעָשִׁ֥יר‘ā·šîr — A wealthy or rich person; one possessing abundant resourcesH6223 — Full Word Study → and poorוְאֶבְיֽוֹן׃wə·’eḇ·yō·wn — Poor person in dire needH34 — Full Word Study → alikeיַ֝֗חַדya·ḥaḏ — together, united, as oneH3162 — Full Word Study →. 3My mouthפִּ֭יpî — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study → will impartיְדַבֵּ֣רyə·ḏab·bêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → wisdomחָכְמ֑וֹתḥā·ḵə·mō·wṯ — Wisdom; skillful understanding and discernmentH2451 — Full Word Study →, and the meditationוְהָג֖וּתwə·hā·ḡūṯ — Meditation, deep reflection, or contemplationH1900 — Full Word Study → of my heartלִבִּ֣יlib·bî — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → will bring understandingתְבוּנֽוֹת׃ṯə·ḇū·nō·wṯ — Prudent understanding; discernment and skillH8394 — Full Word Study →. 4I will inclineאַטֶּ֣ה’aṭ·ṭeh — to stretch out, extend, incline, bendH5186 — Full Word Study → my earאָזְנִ֑י’ā·zə·nî — Ear; the organ of hearing and listeningH241 — Full Word Study → to a proverbלְמָשָׁ֣לlə·mā·šāl — Proverb; a wise saying or parableH4912 — Full Word Study →; I will expressאֶפְתַּ֥ח’ep̄·taḥ — to open, loosen, or beginH6605 — Full Word Study → my riddleחִידָתִֽי׃ḥî·ḏā·ṯî — A riddle, mysterious saying, or hard questionH2420 — Full Word Study → with the harpבְּ֝כִנּ֗וֹרbə·ḵin·nō·wr — stringed musical instrument; lyreH3658 — Full Word Study →: 5Whyלָ֣מָּהlām·māh — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → should I fearאִ֭ירָא’î·rā — to fear, revere, or be afraidH3372 — Full Word Study → in timesבִּ֣ימֵיbî·mê — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of troubleרָ֑עrā‘ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study →, when wickedעֲוֺ֖ן‘ă·wōn — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study → usurpersעֲקֵבַ֣י‘ă·qê·ḇay — heel; supplanting, deceptionH6120 — Full Word Study → surround meיְסוּבֵּֽנִי׃yə·sū·bê·nî — to turn, surround, go aroundH5437 — Full Word Study →? 6They trustהַבֹּטְחִ֥יםhab·bō·ṭə·ḥîm — to trust, rely on, have confidenceH982 — Full Word Study → inעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → their wealthחֵילָ֑םḥê·lām — Army, force, or wealthH2428 — Full Word Study → and boastיִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃yiṯ·hal·lā·lū — To praise, boast, or shine; to celebrate or make a displayH1984 — Full Word Study → in their greatוּבְרֹ֥בū·ḇə·rōḇ — Abundance, multitude, or great quantityH7230 — Full Word Study → richesעָ֝שְׁרָ֗ם‘ā·šə·rām — Riches, wealth, abundance of possessionsH6239 — Full Word Study →. 7Noלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → manאִ֑ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → can possibly redeemפָדֹ֣הp̄ā·ḏōh — to redeem, ransom, or buy backH6299 — Full Word Study → his brotherאָ֗ח’āḥ — Male sibling; brother; kinsmanH251 — Full Word Study → orלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → payיִתֵּ֖ןyit·tên — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → his ransomכָּפְרֽוֹ׃kā·p̄ə·rōw — Ransom; redemption price; atonement coveringH3724 — Full Word Study → to Godלֵאלֹהִ֣יםlê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →. 8For the redemptionפִּדְי֥וֹןpiḏ·yō·wn — Price paid for release or redemptionH6306 — Full Word Study → of his soulנַפְשָׁ֗םnap̄·šām — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → is costlyוְ֭יֵקַרwə·yê·qar — to be precious, honored, or highly valuedH3365 — Full Word Study →, and neverלְעוֹלָֽם׃lə·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study → can payment sufficeוְחָדַ֥לwə·ḥā·ḏal — to cease, stop, or desist from an actionH2308 — Full Word Study →, 9that he should live onוִֽיחִי־wî·ḥî- — To live, to preserve alive, to give lifeH2421 — Full Word Study → foreverלָנֶ֑צַחlā·ne·ṣaḥ — perpetual strength; eternal enduranceH5331 — Full Word Study → and notלֹ֖אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → seeיִרְאֶ֣הyir·’eh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → decayהַשָּֽׁחַת׃haš·šā·ḥaṯ — Pit, grave, or destruction; the grave or hellH7845 — Full Word Study →. 10Forכִּ֤יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → it is clearיִרְאֶ֨ה׀yir·’eh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → that wiseחֲכָ֘מִ֤יםḥă·ḵā·mîm — Wise, skilled, or cunning in understanding and discernmentH2450 — Full Word Study → men dieיָמ֗וּתוּyā·mū·ṯū — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study →, and the foolishכְּסִ֣ילkə·sîl — fool, foolish personH3684 — Full Word Study → and the senselessוָבַ֣עַרwā·ḇa·‘ar — brutish, stupid, senselessH1198 — Full Word Study → bothיַ֤חַדya·ḥaḏ — together, united, as oneH3162 — Full Word Study → perishיֹאבֵ֑דוּyō·ḇê·ḏū — To perish, be destroyed, or lostH6 — Full Word Study → and leaveוְעָזְב֖וּwə·‘ā·zə·ḇū — to abandon, forsake, or leave behindH5800 — Full Word Study → their wealthחֵילָֽם׃ḥê·lām — Army, force, or wealthH2428 — Full Word Study → to othersלַאֲחֵרִ֣יםla·’ă·ḥê·rîm — another, different, or following person or thingH312 — Full Word Study →. 11Their gravesקִרְבָּ֤םqir·bām — midst, inner part, heart, inward beingH7130 — Full Word Study → are their eternalלְֽעוֹלָ֗םlə·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study → homesבָּתֵּ֨ימוֹ׀bāt·tê·mōw — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study →their dwellingsמִ֭שְׁכְּנֹתָםmiš·kə·nō·ṯām — Tabernacle, dwelling place, sanctuaryH4908 — Full Word Study → for endless generationsלְדֹ֣רlə·ḏōr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study →even thoughעֲלֵ֣י‘ă·lê — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → their lands were their namesakesקָֽרְא֥וּqā·rə·’ū — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study →. 12But a manוְאָדָ֣םwə·’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study →, despite his wealthבִּ֭יקָרbî·qār — Preciousness, value, honor, or worthH3366 — Full Word Study →, cannotבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → endureיָלִ֑יןyā·lîn — to lodge, dwell, or remain (overnight or permanently)H3885 — Full Word Study →; he is likeנִמְשַׁ֖לnim·šal — To speak in parables or proverbs; to make a comparisonH4911 — Full Word Study → the beastsכַּבְּהֵמ֣וֹתkab·bə·hê·mō·wṯ — Animal, beast, livestockH929 — Full Word Study → that perishנִדְמֽוּ׃niḏ·mū — To cease, be silent, or be destroyedH1820 — Full Word Study →. 13Thisזֶ֣הzeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study → is the fateדַ֭רְכָּםḏar·kām — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study → of the self-confident and their followersוְאַחֲרֵיהֶ֓ם׀wə·’a·ḥă·rê·hem — after, behind, followingH310 — Full Word Study → who endorseיִרְצ֣וּyir·ṣū — to accept, be pleased with, delight inH7521 — Full Word Study → their sayingsבְּפִיהֶ֖םbə·p̄î·hem — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 14Like sheepכַּצֹּ֤אן׀kaṣ·ṣōn — flock of sheep or goatsH6629 — Full Word Study → they are destinedשַׁתּוּ֮šat·tū — to lay, set, or establish in placeH8371 — Full Word Study → for Sheolלִֽשְׁא֣וֹלliš·’ō·wl — The grave; the abode of the dead; the underworldH7585 — Full Word Study →. Deathמָ֤וֶתmā·weṯ — death, the state of being deadH4194 — Full Word Study → will be their shepherdיִ֫רְעֵ֥םyir·‘êm — to shepherd; to tend, feed, or pasture a flockH7462 — Full Word Study →. The uprightיְשָׁרִ֨ים׀yə·šā·rîm — upright, straight, righteous, justH3477 — Full Word Study → will rule themוַיִּרְדּ֘וּway·yir·dū — To rule, reign, or exercise dominion overH7287 — Full Word Study → in the morningלַבֹּ֗קֶרlab·bō·qer — Morning; daybreak; the early part of the dayH1242 — Full Word Study →, and their formוְצִירָםwə·ṣī·rå̄m — Form, image, or idol representationH6736 — Full Word Study → will decayלְבַלּ֥וֹתlə·ḇal·lō·wṯ — To wear out, grow old, decayH1086 — Full Word Study → in Sheolשְׁא֗וֹלšə·’ō·wl — The grave; the abode of the dead; the underworldH7585 — Full Word Study →, far from their lofty abodeמִזְּבֻ֥לmiz·zə·ḇul — dwelling place, habitation, residenceH2073 — Full Word Study →. 15Butאַךְ־’aḵ- — Surely, certainly, only, neverthelessH389 — Full Word Study → Godאֱלֹהִ֗ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → will redeemיִפְדֶּ֣הyip̄·deh — to redeem, ransom, or buy backH6299 — Full Word Study → my lifeנַ֭פְשִׁיnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → fromמִֽיַּד־mî·yaḏ- — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → Sheolשְׁא֑וֹלšə·’ō·wl — The grave; the abode of the dead; the underworldH7585 — Full Word Study →, forכִּ֖יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → He will surely take me to Himselfיִקָּחֵ֣נִיyiq·qā·ḥê·nî — to take, seize, or receiveH3947 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 16Do notאַל־’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → be amazed whenכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → a manאִ֑ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → grows richיַעֲשִׁ֣רya·‘ă·šir — to become or make rich; to enrichH6238 — Full Word Study →, whenכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the splendorכְּב֣וֹדkə·ḇō·wḏ — weightiness, honor, splendor, gloryH3519 — Full Word Study → of his houseבֵּיתֽוֹ׃bê·ṯōw — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → increasesיִ֝רְבֶּהyir·beh — To increase, multiply, grow abundantH7235 — Full Word Study →. 17Forכִּ֤יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → when he diesבְ֭מוֹתוֹḇə·mō·w·ṯōw — death, the state of being deadH4194 — Full Word Study →, he will carryיִקַּ֣חyiq·qaḥ — to take, seize, or receiveH3947 — Full Word Study → nothing awayלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study →; his abundanceכְּבוֹדֽוֹ׃kə·ḇō·w·ḏōw — weightiness, honor, splendor, gloryH3519 — Full Word Study → will notלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → follow himאַחֲרָ֣יו’a·ḥă·rāw — after, behind, followingH310 — Full Word Study → downיֵרֵ֖דyê·rêḏ — To descend, go down, come downH3381 — Full Word Study →. 18Thoughכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → in his lifetimeבְּחַיָּ֣יוbə·ḥay·yāw — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study → he blessesיְבָרֵ֑ךְyə·ḇā·rêḵ — to bless, kneel, praiseH1288 — Full Word Study → his soulנַ֭פְשׁוֹnap̄·šōw — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →and men praiseוְ֝יוֹדֻ֗ךָwə·yō·w·ḏu·ḵā — To give thanks, praise, or acknowledgeH3034 — Full Word Study → you whenכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → you prosperתֵיטִ֥יבṯê·ṭîḇ — to be good, to improve, to do wellH3190 — Full Word Study → 19he will joinתָּ֭בוֹאtā·ḇō·w — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → the generationדּ֣וֹרdō·wr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study → of his fathersאֲבוֹתָ֑יו’ă·ḇō·w·ṯāw — H1 — Full Word Study →, who will neverעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → seeיִרְאוּ־yir·’ū- — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → the light of dayאֽוֹר׃’ō·wr — Light; brightness; illuminationH216 — Full Word Study →. 20A manאָדָ֣ם’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study → who has richesבִּ֭יקָרbî·qār — Preciousness, value, honor, or worthH3366 — Full Word Study → withoutוְלֹ֣אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → understandingיָבִ֑יןyā·ḇîn — To understand, discern, perceiveH995 — Full Word Study → is likeנִמְשַׁ֖לnim·šal — To speak in parables or proverbs; to make a comparisonH4911 — Full Word Study → the beastsכַּבְּהֵמ֣וֹתkab·bə·hê·mō·wṯ — Animal, beast, livestockH929 — Full Word Study → that perishנִדְמֽוּ׃niḏ·mū — To cease, be silent, or be destroyedH1820 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 49
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 49 is a wisdom psalm that addresses a universal human struggle: the anxiety we feel when wicked or wealthy people seem to prosper while we face hardship. The psalmist calls all people—rich and poor alike—to hear a profound truth: material wealth cannot save us from death, and earthly riches are ultimately meaningless. Through this meditation, the author reveals the vanity of trusting in money and possessions, and points us instead to the only true security: God's redemption of our souls. This psalm offers comfort to believers who feel intimidated by the success of the ungodly.

Verses 1–5: The Universal Call and the Psalmist's Authority

The psalmist opens with an urgent call that transcends all social boundaries. In verses 1-2, he invites "all ye people" and "all ye inhabitants of the world"—both low and high, rich and poor—to listen. This is not a message for one class of people; it applies everywhere. Verses 3-4 establish the psalmist's credibility: his mouth will speak wisdom, his meditation will yield understanding, and he will unfold a profound parable (or "dark saying") with musical accompaniment. In verse 5, we discover why this message is so personal: the psalmist faces evil days and feels surrounded by iniquity, yet he asks, "Wherefore should I fear?" This rhetorical question introduces the theme—he has learned something that liberates him from fear. The answer follows: a truth about wealth that the wicked do not grasp.

Verses 6–12: The Futility of Trusting in Wealth

Here the psalmist describes the folly of those who trust in riches (verses 6-7). Their confidence is misplaced because wealth cannot accomplish what they most desperately need: redemption from death. Verse 7 is devastating: "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him." All the gold in the world cannot purchase eternal life or save another soul. Verse 8 underscores this—the price of redemption is so precious and costly that it ceases forever; no one can pay it through human effort or money. Verses 9-10 present the reality both wise and foolish people face: everyone dies. The rich man dies just as surely as the pauper, and he must leave his wealth to others, having gained nothing eternal. Verses 11-12 expose the vain hope of the wealthy: they imagine their houses will endure forever and name their lands after themselves, seeking immortality through property and legacy. Yet verse 12 delivers the blow: "man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish." Without God, human dignity crumbles to dust.

Verses 13–15: Death's Democracy and God's Redemption

Verse 13 notes that though their way is folly, the wicked's descendants often follow and approve their example—sin spreads. But verses 14-15 pivot to hope. Death is the great equalizer: like sheep, the wicked are "laid in the grave; death shall feed on them." Yet the righteous have a blessed hope that the wicked do not: "God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me." This is the core of the psalm's comfort—God alone can redeem our souls, not through earthly treasure but through His grace and power.

Verses 16–20: Counsel for the Believer

The psalm closes with practical exhortation: do not fear when others grow rich (verse 16). When they die, they take nothing with them (verse 17). Their self-indulgence and praise from others are hollow (verses 18-19). Verse 20 summarizes: honor without understanding—without knowing God—leaves us no better than animals destined to perish.

Application for Today

In our consumer-driven culture, Psalm 49 speaks with prophetic clarity. We are tempted daily to envy the wealthy and successful. This psalm teaches us that true security rests not in bank accounts but in God's promise of redemption. When anxiety about money or status tempts you, remember: only God can redeem your soul. Find your peace and confidence in His grace, not in possessions that will one day be left behind.

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