Psalms 49

The Prophet having stirred up all men to attention: he shews the contrariety of this vain trust of worldly men in their riches, might and honour in this transitory life, and of the holy trust and confidence of the faithful in God, that shall raise them from the dead, and give them everlasting life: exhorting all the faithful thereupon, not to fear the rich or power of any worldly man whatsoever.

1. A Psalm for the chief song-master, [Psa.4.on v.1.] among the children of Korah. [See Psa.42.on v.1.]

2. Hear this all ye nations: take to ears all ye inhabitants of the world.

3. As well (the) mean as (the) respected [Heb. Et file hominis, et. Filij viri. See Psa.4.on v.3.] rich and rooted together.

4. My mouth shall speak nothing but wisdom, [Heb. Wisdoms] and the meditation of my heart shall be full of understanding. [Heb. Understandings.]

5. I shall encline mine ear to a sentence: I shall open my hidden sayings [Or riddles. See Jud.14.on v.12. and 1 Kings 10.on v.1.] upon the Harp. [or Cithern.]

6. Why should I fear in evil days? [Heb. Days of evil, i.e. time of adversity and trouble] (when) the unrighteous (ones) which are on my heels surround me [Heb. The iniquity of my heels surround me. i.e. men of iniquity, unrighteous men; or understand the iniquity and malice of his Enemies, persecuting me unjustly, and so closely something me at the heels, that sometimes they encompass me round. This whole Psalm sheweth, that the godly have cause to be of good chear and consort in the midst, and against the power and insolence of all their wicked persecutors.]

7. As for those that trust in their goods, and boast of the multitude of their riches.

8. None of them shall ever be able to redeem [Heb. Shall redeeming redeem, i.e. they shall never, nor in any wise be able to deliver or redeem them] (his) brother; [i.e. kinsmen, or friend, whom he would gladly keep and preserve alive, and be loath to lose by death, if he could any ways chuse or let it] he shall not be able to give God his ransom (or redemption-money) [as to the LORD of life and death, to whom all men do owe death, Gen.2.17. and 3.19. Rom.5.12, &c. And 6.23.]

9. For the redemption [Or ransom, relaxation, freemaking, freedoms purchase] of their soul [i.e. of their life. See Gen.19.on v.17.] is too precious (or costly) [oth. Too heavy, i.e. impossible, as Dan.2.11.] and shall cease forever.) [i.e. never be compassed, or brought to pass, but remain behind forever.]

10. That he also should live on continually, [Or always, evermore as he was not able to redeem other from death, so he can not do it for himself neither] (and) not see the corruption. [See Psa.16.on v.10.]

11. For he seeth; [Or one seeth sure, or yet one seeth] that the wise (ones) die, that a fool and irrational [or brutal one) i.e. he that like a brute beast hath no understand, to he that is enflamed or enraged with unreasonable and furious passions. Compare Psa.73.22.and 92.7. and 94.8. Prov.30.2. 2 Pet.2.12. Jude v.10.] perish withal; and leave their goods to others.

12. Their inward thought is [Heb. Their inward, or, inmost] that their houses shall be for ever, their habitation from generation to generation: [Heb. In generation etc.] they call the Lands after their Names. [Others, they boast, or proclaimed their names in the Countries.]

13. Never the less man (home) (that) is in reputation [And hath no understanding, as v.21. being for all his state and excellency in the world, but such a brute and idiote as is described before. See v.7.12.] abideth not: [Heb. Properly, shall not stay all night; but the Hebrew word is taken beside for lodging, sojourning abiding] he becometh like to the beasts (that) perish [or are cut off, destroyed. The likeness consisteth in the death, which is common to wicked men and beasts, and in regard of the brute, dull, and senceless condition, wherein the wicked die, even as if they were very beasts, of the immortality of the soul there is spoken elsewhere.]

14. This way of theirs [i.e. course of life practise and conversation. See Gen.6.on v.12.] is a folly of them. [Oth.hope, i.e. that wherein they put their hope and confidence, the Hebrew word admitting of contrary significations, as folly, unconstancy, unsteddiness, levity; sometimes hope stedfastness, confidence, even as the Hebrew word. Berechsignifies blessing and sometimes cursing, the like happens also with some words in most languages, some being of very different and even contrary siginifications] nevertheless their posterities take delight in their words [Hebrew mouth, i.e. savings, instructions, charges, commands, as the mouth is often taken for that which proceedeth thence. The meaning is, they do and carry themselves even, as others did before them, instead of forsaking and abhorring the folly of their predecessours] Sela. [See Psa.3.on v.3.]

15. One puts them [Heb. They put, them namely, or place, lay them, these wicked, wretched rich ones, i.e. one puts them, or they are put; as frequently elsewhere] as sheep [who are thrust and thronged into the fold as thick as they sufficient to contain the ambitious and covetous thoughts of the wicked] into the grave, [Heb. Scheol, and so in the sequel. See Gen.37.on v.35.] Death shall feed on them [i.e. consume them [i.e. consume them, wear them out, waste them, See of the Hebrew word Job 24.on v.21. Others feed them, i.e. be their Lord and Master, rule order and possess them] and the upright shall have Dominion over them [in Christ their head, under whose feet all Enemies shall be thrown, and made his foot-stool as it were, Psa.110.1.1. Cor.15.25.] in that morning [when they shall awake out of their sleep unto their blessed resurrection, through the power of their head Jesus Christ] and the grave shall waste [Heb.properly inveterate, made old] their feature, [or shape, countenance. Oth. Their rock, strength, whereon they grounded their confindence] (each one) out of his dwelling, [to wit, being pluckt away therehence, for all the fond and vain conceits he entertained thereof. See v.12.Oth. thus for their (the uprights) rock (the Messiahs) (is) to destroy the grave, that it shall be no habitation to them (Heb. Him, i.e. to none of the godly, not one of them] or out of its (i.e. the graves) habitation, as when one subdues an Enemy in his own camp.]

16. But [Or assuredly; in regard of the translation or reading mentioned just before] God shall redeem my soul [Compare Psa.16.on v.10. though here regard is had to the perfect Redemption of all the members of Christ in soul and body, which every true believer doth apply unto himself, as is done here] from the power of the grave: [Heb. Out, or from the hand, so Hos.13.14. See Job 5.on v.20. and Psa.22.21.] for he shall take me up, [or when he shall take me up, See John 14:3. 1 Thes.4.14,17.] Sela.

17. Fear not when a man grows rich; [Be not dismayed, fainthearted, pusillanimous, distrustfull, when you see the wicked grow mighty and powerful] when the honour of his house grows great. [or multiplied, enlarged.]

18. For he shall take nothing at all with him in his death, (Or dying) his honour shall not descend after him.

19. Although he bless his soul; [Count himself a happy man. See Deut.29.on v.19. Some do understand it of his voluptuous and luxurious course of life spoken of in the sequel, and Luke 12:19. and 16.25. and they [the foolish worldlings] praise thee [o foolish rich man] for doing good to thy self. [or when thou doest.]

20. (Yet) shall ye she [To wit, the soul, whereof was spoken in the former verse, that is, himself] come to the generation of their fathers, [of his fore-fathers, which are gone down to the grave and pit of hell, even as the faithful are gathered to their fellow members. See Gen.15.15. and 25.8,17. Some do understand this verse thus, that those wicked ones shall live no longer on Earth then did their fore-fathers: they should enjoy no everlasting life here in this world] in eternity shall not they see the light. [Compare Psa.36.on v.10. but they (the wicked described before) shall be cast out into the utter darkness. Mat.8.12.]

21. The man that is in honour, and hath no understanding, becometh like unto the beasts that perish.