Psalms 49:1

PSALM XLIX

All men are invited to attend to lessons of wisdom relative to

the insufficiency of earthly good to save or prolong life; to

secure the resurrection frown the dead, 1-9.

Death is inevitable, 10.

The vain expectations of rich men, 11-13.

Death renders all alike, 14.

The psalmist encourages and fortifies himself against envying

the apparently prosperous state of the wicked, who are brutish,

and die like beasts, 15-20.

NOTES ON PSALM XLIX

The title, To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah, has nothing particular in it; and the Versions say little about it. One of the descendants of the children of Korah might have been the author of it; but when or on what occasion it was made, cannot now be discovered. The author aimed to be obscure, and has succeeded; for it is very difficult to make out his meaning. It is so much in the style of the Book of Job, that one might believe they had the same author; and that this Psalm might have made originally a part of that book. "It seems," says Dr. Dodd, "to be a meditation on the vanity of riches, and the usual haughtiness of those who possess them. As a remedy for this, he sets before them the near prospect of death, from which no riches can save, in which no riches can avail. The author considers the subject he is treating as a kind of wisdom concealed from the world; a mystery, an occult science with respect to the generality of mankind." Dr. Kennicott has given an excellent translation of this Psalm, which is very literal, simple, and elegant; and by it the reader will be convinced that a good translation of a difficult passage is often better than a comment.

Verse Psalms 49:1. Hear this, all ye people] The four first verses contain the author's exordium or introduction, delivered in a very pompous style and promising the deepest lessons of wisdom and instruction. But what was rare then is common-place now.