1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. 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.
Psalms · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Psalm 49 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (2)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
- Psalm titles are printed as the start of verse 1.
Cross references (20)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Psalm 78:1; Matthew 11:15; Psalm 33:8; Romans 3:29; Revelation 2:7
- 2 Psalm 62:9; James 2:1–7; 1 Samuel 2:7–8; Job 34:19; Jeremiah 5:4–5
- 3 Psalm 19:14; Matthew 12:35; Proverbs 22:20–21; Proverbs 22:17; Job 33:33
- 4 Psalm 78:2; Matthew 13:35; Numbers 12:8; Numbers 23:7; 2 Corinthians 3:12
- 5 Philippians 1:28; Acts 27:24; Romans 8:33–34; Proverbs 24:10; Psalm 46:1–2
- 6 1 Timothy 6:17; Ezekiel 28:4–5; Jeremiah 9:23; Proverbs 11:28; Psalm 52:7
- 7 Matthew 16:26; Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 Peter 1:18; Matthew 25:9
- 8 Matthew 16:26; Job 36:18–19
- 9 Psalm 89:48; Psalm 16:10; Ecclesiastes 8:8; Proverbs 10:2; John 8:51–52
- 10 Psalm 39:6; Luke 12:20; Ecclesiastes 5:13–16; Hebrews 9:27; 1 Timothy 6:6–10
- 11 Genesis 4:17; Psalm 5:9; Psalm 64:6; 2 Samuel 18:18; Ezekiel 38:10
- 12 Ecclesiastes 3:18–21; Psalm 82:7; Psalm 39:5; Psalm 49:20; Ecclesiastes 9:12
- 13 Luke 12:20; 1 Corinthians 3:19; Luke 16:27–28; Jeremiah 44:17; Luke 11:47–48
- 14 Malachi 4:3; 1 Corinthians 6:2; Job 30:23; Job 24:19–20; Daniel 7:22
- 15 Psalm 73:24; Psalm 56:13; Psalm 86:13; Psalm 89:48; Hosea 13:14
- 16 Psalm 37:7; Psalm 37:1; Revelation 21:24; Revelation 21:26; Esther 3:1–6
- 17 1 Timothy 6:7; Job 27:19; Ecclesiastes 5:15; 1 Corinthians 15:43; Luke 16:24
- 18 Luke 12:19; Deuteronomy 29:19; Psalm 10:3; Hosea 12:8; Acts 12:20–22
- 19 Job 33:30; Psalm 56:13; Genesis 15:15; Luke 12:20; Matthew 8:12
- 20 Ecclesiastes 3:18–19; Psalm 49:12; Job 4:21; Esther 7:10; Esther 5:11–14
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The title of this Psalm is, "A song of praise, to the sons of Korah, on the second day of the week." Concerning this what the Lord deigneth to grant receive ye like sons of the firmament.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
… lost the true rationality, and living irrationally, opposed the righteousness of God, giving himself over to every earthly spirit, and serving all lusts; as says the prophet, "Man, being in honour, did not understand: he was assimilated to senseless beasts, and made like to them." Chapter V.--The author returns to his former argument, and shows that there was but one …
For this he doth by the discernment of his mind, whereby he perceiveth the things "of the Spirit of God;" whereas, otherwise, man being placed in honour, had no understanding, and is compared unto the brute beasts, and is become like unto them. In Thy Church, therefore, O our God, according to Thy grace which Thou hast accorded unto it, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
As the prophet too said, intimating the selfsame thing, "A brother redeemeth not, shall a man redeem?" No, not although it were Moses, Samuel, Jeremiah.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
It is of such the Psalmist says, "They call their lands after their own names." Wherefore they incur what is written in another psalm: "Thou, O Lord, in Thy city wilt despise their image." But as for the son of Seth, the son of the resurrection, let him hope to call on the name of the Lord God.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)