Sons of Korah
Psalm 49
To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
Scripture (KJV)
1Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
2Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
3My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7None 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:)
9That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
10For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11Their 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.
12Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
14Like 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.
15But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
16Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
18Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
19He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
20Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Summary
Psalm 49 is a wisdom psalm addressing all inhabitants of the world, low and high, rich and poor. The sons of Korah meditate on the folly of trusting in wealth: no one can redeem a brother or give a ransom to God, for the redemption of a soul is costly. Wise and foolish alike die and leave their wealth to others. Those who trust in riches are like beasts that perish. The turning point comes in verse 15: "But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me." The psalm closes by warning us not to fear when the rich grow richer, for when they die they carry nothing away.
The major themes are wealth, death, wisdom, redemption, and the vanity of trusting riches. Practically, the psalm teaches that wealth cannot ransom a soul and that death levels all distinctions. The great lesson is that God will redeem the soul of the one who trusts in Him.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 49
LORD, let my mouth speak of wisdom and the meditation of my heart be of understanding. Why should I fear in days of evil? Those who trust in wealth cannot redeem a brother or give a ransom to God. The redemption of a soul is costly. Wise and foolish die alike and leave their wealth to others. Man in honor abides not; he is like the beasts that perish. But You, God, will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for You will receive me. Let me not be afraid when one is made rich, for when he dies he carries nothing away. Let me trust not in riches but in You, my Redeemer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1How does this psalm reframe my relationship to wealth and possessions?
- 2What does it mean that no one can "give to God a ransom for him"?
- 3How does verse 15 give hope in the face of death?
- 4Where am I tempted to trust in riches rather than in God?
Related Psalms
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Read morePsalm 37
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Read morePsalm 112
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Psalm 112 is an acrostic wisdom psalm that mirrors Psalm 111 in form and theme, tracing the blessings of the person who fears the Lord and delights greatly in His commandments.
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