Psalms · psalm 49 of 150
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Psalm 49 is a wisdom poem of the sons of Korah addressed to all peoples, rich and poor. It teaches that no one can ransom another with money, that the rich and the wise die like everyone else and that fame does not outlive death. Against that, the psalmist trusts that God will ransom his soul from the power of Sheol.
The title dedicates it to the choirmaster and ascribes it to the sons of Korah. Unlike most psalms, it is not a prayer but a teaching addressed to a universal audience, like the book of Proverbs. It speaks of death and riches in a calm tone and affirms a hope that the New Testament will later confirm.
The poet begins by calling all peoples, all inhabitants of the world, low and high, rich and poor: hear this. His mouth will speak wisdom and the meditation of his heart will be understanding. He will incline his ear to a proverb and solve his riddle on the lyre.
He asks why he should fear in times of trouble, when evil surrounds him, before those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches. Truly no man can ransom another or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit. It is plain that even the wise die; the fool and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever, though they called their lands by their own names. But man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.
This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; like sheep they are appointed for Sheol, and death shall be their shepherd. But the psalmist trusts: God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases, for when he dies he will carry nothing away. Though in his lifetime he counts himself blessed and people praise him when he does well for himself, he will go to the generation of his fathers and never again see light. Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
No one can ransom his brother or pay God the price of his life, because the ransom of a soul is too costly. No money can buy what only God can give.
Man in his pomp does not remain, and he is like the beasts that perish. Fame and riches do not change our mortal condition.
The psalmist trusts that God will ransom his soul from the power of Sheol and receive him. It is one of the clearest Old Testament expressions of hope beyond death.
We need not fear when someone grows rich, because at death he will take nothing with him. The power and wealth of this world are passing.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: All peoples and inhabitants of the world, low and high, rich and poor. — Psalm 49:1-2
Answer: Ransom him or give to God the price of his life. — Psalm 49:7
Answer: All die and leave their wealth to others. — Psalm 49:10
Answer: Sheep appointed for Sheol, with death as their shepherd. — Psalm 49:14
Answer: Ransom his soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive him. — Psalm 49:15
Answer: Nothing; his glory will not go down after him. — Psalm 49:17
Psalm 49 puts riches in their place without despising them. In a small group you can ask where people look for security today, such as money, status or health, and what the limit of each is. Jesus taught something similar in the parable of the rich fool, in Luke 12:13-21.
It also comforts those without resources who feel small before the powerful. The psalmist says there is no need to fear. The ransom of life cannot be bought but comes from God, and Christians recognize that Christ paid the price no wealth could cover, according to Mark 10:45.
Psalm 49 ends with the warning that one who has honor but no understanding is like the beasts that perish. Psalm 50 also speaks of what God truly wants, and does so with the voice of God himself as judge of his people.
It is the Hebrew word for the place of the dead, the grave or the realm of the dead. In the Old Testament it describes the condition of those who have died, and the psalmists sometimes pray to be spared from it. Psalm 49:15 hopes God will rescue the believer from its power.
Its verse 15 says God will receive the psalmist, an expression many read as hope beyond death, similar to Psalm 73:24. The New Testament makes that hope clearer in the resurrection of Christ, though the psalm does not develop the details.
It is an ironic image: instead of the Lord, who is shepherd of his people, the shepherd of those who trust in their riches is death. It contrasts with Psalm 23, where the Lord guides his sheep through the valley of the shadow of death.