1Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world; 2both children of mankind, and sons of men, rich and poor together. 3My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. 4I will extend my ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp. 5Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the depravity of my supplanters surrounds me? 6Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches: 7None of them can at all redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him 8(for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it comes to an end forever), 9that he might yet live forever and never see the pit. 10For he sees wise men die; likewise the fool and the brutish ones perish, and leave their wealth to others. 11Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, and their dwelling places from generation to generation; they call their lands after their own names. 12Nevertheless man, though precious, does not remain; he is like the animals that perish. 13This way of theirs is their folly; yet those who follow delight in their sayings. Selah. 14Like sheep they are appointed to the grave; death shall shepherd them, and the upright shall have the rule over them in the morning; their form is consumed; Sheol is their home. 15But God will redeem my soul from the hand of Sheol; for He will carry me away. Selah. 16Be not afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases; 17for when he dies he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him. 18For in his life he blessed his own soul (indeed, they praise you when you do well for yourself). 19But he shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. 20A man with honor, but lacking understanding, is like the animals that perish.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 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. (Psa. 49:1-20)
All are called to hear what interests all.
world--literally, "duration of life," the present time.
4 incline--to hear attentively (
Ps 17:6;
Ps 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
Pro 26:7,
Pro 26:9;
Hab 2:6;
John 16:25,
John 16:29). Such forms of speech are often very figurative and also obscure (compare
Matt 13:12-
Matt 13:15). Hence the use of the parallel word--
dark saying--or, "riddle" (compare
Ezek 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" (
Gen 27:36), or oppressors: "I am surrounded by the evils they inflict."
6 They are vainglorious.
7 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;
Pro 1:32;
Pro 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 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" (
Luke 12:19,
Luke 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."