Comment – The text of Psalm 49 brings an announcement of wisdom to each people taking their cue from a riddle in a Provierbial form, a veiled truth which explains by stating that in prosperity man does not understand, making himself similar to the beasts that die. Whatever material wealth is unable to save any man, because everyone is destined to die, God has placed death as a penalty to be served following the guilt inherent in mankind starting from original sin and there is no gold or silver that he can free from the established death, even if by paying he will go to the best doctors because this alone will never be enough and the wealth accumulated sooner or later will be left to others.
Psalm 49 complete
[1] To the choir master. Of Core's children. Psalm.
[2] Hear ye all peoples, give ear to the inhabitants of the world,
[3] you nobles and people of the people, rich and poor together.
[4] My mouth expresses wisdom, my heart meditates wisdom;
[5] I will turn my ear to a proverb, I will explain my riddle on the harp.
[6] Why fear in the sad days, when the malice of the perverts surrounds me?
[7] They trust in their strength, they boast of their great wealth.
[8] No one can redeem himself, or give his price to God.
[9] No matter how much a life's ransom is paid, it will never be enough
[10] to live without end, and not to see the grave.
Recommended readings- Psalm 76: complete, commentary
- Psalm 62: complete, commentary
- Psalm 102: complete, commentary
- Psalm 6: complete, commentary
- Psalm 20: complete, commentary
[11] He will see the wise men die; the foolish and the senseless will perish together and leave their wealth to others.
[12] The sepulcher will be their home forever, their home for all generations, yet they have given their name to the earth.
[13] But man in prosperity does not understand, it is like animals that perish.
[14] This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, the future of those who delight in their words.
[15] As sheep are sent to hell, death will be their shepherd; they will fall precipitously into the sepulcher, all their semblances will vanish: the underworld will be their home.
[16] But God will be able to redeem me, he will tear me from the hand of death.
[17] If you see a man getting rich, do not be afraid, if the glory of his home increases.
[18] When he dies with him, he brings nothing, nor does his glory descend with him.
[19] In his life he said he was lucky: "They will praise you, because you have obtained good."
[20] He will go with the generation of his fathers who will never see the light again.
[21] Man in prosperity does not understand, it is like animals that perish.
