Psalm 49:1-12

The Voice

Psalm 49

For the worship leader. A song of the sons of Korah.

Some songs are described as “wisdom psalms.” Similar in theme to the short sayings of Proverbs or the reflective essays of Ecclesiastes, these songs offer practical advice to the worshiper of the one True God. In Psalm 49 we find a meditation on wealth and wisdom, but others describe daily activities (127–128; 133), encouragement when evil succeeds (37; 73), and the results of following God or wickedness (112). The purpose of these songs is to edify those who sing and those who hear, reminding them, and us, how to live life as God intends.

¹Listen up, everyone!
    All you who reside in this world, give an ear!
²Everyone—rich and poor,
    young and old, wise and foolish, humble and mighty—
³My mouth will overflow with wisdom;
    the reflections of my heart will guide you to understand the nature of life.
⁴I will tune my ear to the words of a proverb;
    to the sounds of a harp, I will reveal my riddle.

⁵Why should I be afraid when dark evils swirl about me,
    when I am walking among the sin of evildoers—
⁶Those who depend on their own fortunes,
    who boast about their earthly riches?
⁷One person can’t grant salvation to another
    or make a payment to the True God for another.
⁸Redeeming a life is costly;
    no premium is enough, ever enough,
⁹That one’s body might live on forever
    and never fear the grave’s decay.

¹⁰Everyone knows that even the wisest ones die,
    perishing together with the foolish and the stupid.
For all die—beggars and kings, fools and wise men.
    Their wealth remains behind for others.
¹¹Although they wish to dwell in fine houses forever,
    their graves are their real resting places.
    Their homes are for all future generations,
    yet for a while they have named lands after themselves.
¹²[No one, regardless of how rich or important, can live forever;
    he is]^[a] just like the animals that perish and decay.