(KJV) Psalm 491

<< Psalm 48 Psalm 50 >>

⥃The Evanescence of Wealth [ Ecclesiastes 5:8–20 ]

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for2 the sons of Korah.

[1] Hear3 this, all [ye] people; give ear, all [ye] inhabitants4 of the world: [2] Both low and high, rich and poor, together.5 [3] My mouth6 shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation7 of my heart [shall be] of understanding. [4] I will incline8 mine ear to a parable9: I will open my dark10 saying upon the harp. [5] Wherefore11 should I fear in the days12 of evil, [when] the iniquity13 of my heels14 shall compass me about? [6] They that trust15 in their wealth, and boast16 themselves in the multitude of their riches; [7] None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give17 to God a ransom for him: [8] (For the redemption of their soul [is] precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)18 [9] That he19 should still live for ever, [and] not see20 corruption. [10] For he seeth [that] wise21 men die, likewise the fool22 and the brutish person perish, and leave23 their wealth to others. [11] Their inward24 thought [is], [that] their houses [shall continue] for ever, [and] their dwelling places to all generations25; they call26 [their] lands after their own names. [12] Nevertheless man [being] in honour27 abideth28 not: he is like the beasts29 [that] perish. [13] This their way [is] their folly30: yet their posterity approve their sayings31. Selah. [14] Like32 sheep they33 are laid in the grave; death34 shall feed on them; and the upright35 shall have dominion over them in the morning36; and their37 beauty38 shall consume in the grave39 from their dwelling. [15] But God40 will redeem my soul from the power41 of the grave42: for he shall43 receive me. Selah. [16] Be not44 thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory45 of his house is increased; [17] For when he dieth he shall46 carry nothing away: his47 glory shall not descend after him. [18] Though while he lived48 he blessed49 his soul: and [men] will praise50 thee, when thou doest well to thyself. [19] He51 shall go to the generation52 of his fathers; they shall never53 see light. [20] Man54 [that is] in honour, and understandeth55 not, is like56 the beasts [that] perish.

<< Psalm 48 Psalm 50 >>

  1. Ps 49:1, An earnest persuasion to build the faith of resurrection, not on worldly power, but on God; Ps 49:16, Worldly prosperity is not to be admired. This Psalm was probably written by one of the descendants of the sons of Korah, during the Babylonian captivity. ↩

  2. or, of, Ps 46:1, Ps 48:1 *titles ↩

  3. Ps 34:11, Ps 78:1; Prov 1:20-23; Matt 11:15, Matt 13:9; Rev 2:7, Rev 2:11, Rev 2:17, Rev 2:29 ↩

  4. Ps 50:1; Isa 49:6; Mal 1:11; Matt 28:19-20; Rom 3:29, Rom 10:18 ↩

  5. Ps 62:9; 1Sam 2:7-8; Job 34:19; Prov 22:2; Jer 5:4-5; Jas 1:9-11, Jas 2:1-7; Rev 6:15-17 ↩

  6. Deut 32:2; Job 33:3, Job 33:33; Prov 4:1-2, Prov 8:6-11, Prov 22:17, Prov 22:20-21; 2Tim 3:15-17 ↩

  7. Ps 19:14, Ps 45:1, Ps 104:34; Matt 12:35 ↩

  8. Ps 78:2; Matt 13:35 ↩

  9. Num 23:7; Ezek 20:49; Matt 13:11-15 ↩

  10. Prov 1:6; Dan 8:23; Luke 12:3; 2Cor 3:12 ↩

  11. Ps 27:1-2, Ps 46:1-2; Isa 41:10-11; Acts 27:24; Rom 8:33-34; Phil 1:28 ↩

  12. Prov 24:10; Amos 5:13; Eph 5:16 ↩

  13. Ps 38:4; Prov 5:22; Hos 7:2 ↩

  14. Ps 22:16, Ps 56:6-7; Gen 49:17; 1Sam 26:20 ↩

  15. Ps 52:7, Ps 62:10; Job 31:24-25; Prov 10:15, Prov 23:5; Mark 10:24; 1Tim 6:17 ↩

  16. Esth 5:11; Jer 9:23; Ezek 28:4-5; Hos 12:8; Luke 12:19 ↩

  17. Matt 16:26, Matt 20:28; 1Tim 2:6; 1Pet 1:18 ↩

  18. Job 36:18-19 ↩

  19. Ps 89:48; Prov 10:2, Prov 11:4; Eccl 8:8; Zech 1:5; Luke 16:22-23 ↩

  20. Ps 16:10; John 8:51-52; Acts 2:27, Acts 2:31, Acts 13:33, Acts 13:35-37 ↩

  21. Eccl 2:16-21, Eccl 9:1-2; Rom 5:12-14; Heb 9:27 ↩

  22. Ps 73:22, Ps 92:6-7, Ps 94:8; Prov 12:1, Prov 30:2; Jer 10:8 ↩

  23. Ps 49:17, Ps 17:14, Ps 39:6; Prov 11:4; Eccl 2:18-19, Eccl 2:21, Eccl 2:26, Eccl 5:13-16; Jer 17:11; Luke 12:20; 1Tim 6:6-10 ↩

  24. etc. Or, "Their grave is their house forever, their dwelling place through all generations, though their names are celebrated over countries." Ps 5:9, Ps 64:6; Ezek 38:10; Luke 11:39; Acts 8:22 ↩

  25. Heb. generation and generation ↩

  26. Gen 4:17; 1Sam 15:12; 2Sam 18:18 ↩

  27. Ps 49:20, Ps 39:5, Ps 82:7; Jas 1:10-11; 1Pet 1:24 ↩

  28. The word yalin, rendered abideth, signifies to lodge for a night. Man's continuance in the world, or in honour or distinction, resembles a traveller's lodging at an inn, whence he removes in the morning; and is frequently far more transient and evanescent. ↩

  29. Eccl 3:18-21, Eccl 9:12 ↩

  30. Luke 12:20; 1Cor 3:19 ↩

  31. Heb. delight in their mouth, Jer 44:17; Luke 11:47-48, Luke 16:27-28 ↩

  32. Ps 44:11; Jer 12:3; Rom 8:36 ↩

  33. Job 17:13-14, Job 21:13, Job 21:26, Job 30:23; Eccl 12:7; Isa 38:10-11 ↩

  34. Job 24:19-20 ↩

  35. Ps 47:3; Dan 7:22; Mal 4:3; Luke 22:30; 1Cor 6:2; Rev 2:26-27, Rev 20:4-5 ↩

  36. Ps 30:5; Hos 6:3 ↩

  37. Ps 39:11; Job 4:21 ↩

  38. or, strength ↩

  39. etc. or, the grave being an habitation to every one of them, Job 30:23 ↩

  40. Ps 31:5, Ps 56:13, Ps 73:24; Hos 13:14; Rev 5:9, Rev 14:13 ↩

  41. Heb. hand ↩

  42. or, hell, Ps 16:10, Ps 86:13, Ps 89:48 ↩

  43. Luke 23:46; John 14:3; Acts 7:59 ↩

  44. Ps 49:5, Ps 37:1, Ps 37:7; Esth 3:1-6; Prov 28:12 ↩

  45. Gen 31:1; Esth 5:11; Rev 21:24, Rev 21:26 ↩

  46. Job 1:21, Job 27:19; Eccl 5:15; Luke 12:20, Luke 16:24; 1Tim 6:7 ↩

  47. Isa 5:14, Isa 10:3; 1Cor 15:43 ↩

  48. Heb. in his life ↩

  49. Deut 29:19; Hos 12:8; Luke 12:19 ↩

  50. 1Sam 25:6; Esth 3:2; Acts 12:20-22; Rev 13:3-4 ↩

  51. Heb. The soul, Eccl 3:21, Eccl 12:7; Luke 12:20, Luke 16:22-23 ↩

  52. Gen 15:15; 1Kgs 16:6 ↩

  53. Ps 56:13; Job 33:30; Matt 8:12, Matt 22:13; Jude 1:13 ↩

  54. Ps 49:12; Esth 5:11-14, Esth 7:10 ↩

  55. Job 4:21 ↩

  56. Ps 73:18-19; Eccl 3:18-19 ↩