See how simple it is to study with trusted help beside every verse. Try Bible Gateway Plus FREE for 7 days.
Log In/Sign Up

#
Psalm 49
New King James Version

### The Confidence of the Foolish

#### To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

49 Hear this, all peoples;
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high,
Rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will disclose my [a]dark saying on the harp.

5 Why should I fear in the days of evil,
When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
6 Those who (A)trust in their wealth
And boast in the multitude of their riches,
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
Nor (B)give to God a ransom for him—
8 For (C)the redemption of their souls is costly,
And it shall cease forever—
9 That he should continue to live eternally,
And (D)not [b]see the Pit.

10 For he sees wise men die;
Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish,
And leave their wealth to others.
11 [c]Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever,
Their dwelling places to all generations;
They (E)call their lands after their own names.
12 Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not [d]remain;
He is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the way of those who are (F)foolish,
And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah
14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave;
Death shall feed on them;
(G)The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;
(H)And their beauty shall be consumed in [e]the grave, far from their dwelling.
15 But God (I)will redeem my soul from the power of [f]the grave,
For He shall (J)receive me. Selah

16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,
When the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;
His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lives (K)he blesses himself
(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never see (L)light.[g]
20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,
(M)Is like the beasts that perish.

#### Footnotes

1. Psalm 49:4 riddle
2. Psalm 49:9 experience corruption
3. Psalm 49:11 LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg. Their graves shall be their houses forever
4. Psalm 49:12 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Syr., Vg. understand (cf. v. 20)
5. Psalm 49:14 Or Sheol
6. Psalm 49:15 Or Sheol
7. Psalm 49:19 The light of life

#### Cross references

1. Psalm 49:6 : Job 31:24; Ps. 52:7; [Prov. 11:28; Mark 10:23, 24]
2. Psalm 49:7 : Job 36:18, 19
3. Psalm 49:8 : [Matt. 16:26]
4. Psalm 49:9 : Ps. 89:48
5. Psalm 49:11 : Gen. 4:17; Deut. 3:14
6. Psalm 49:13 : [Luke 12:20]
7. Psalm 49:14 : Ps. 47:3; [Dan. 7:18; 1 Cor. 6:2; Rev. 2:26]
8. Psalm 49:14 : Job 4:21
9. Psalm 49:15 : [Hos. 13:4]; Mark 16:6, 7; Acts 2:31, 32
10. Psalm 49:15 : Ps. 73:24
11. Psalm 49:18 : Deut. 29:19; Luke 12:19
12. Psalm 49:19 : Job 33:30
13. Psalm 49:20 : Eccl. 3:19

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NKJV, Gift and Award Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version
Retail: $9.99
Our Price: $6.99
Save: $3.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, The Bible Study Bible, Comfort Print: A Study Guide for Every Chapter of the Bible
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, The Everyday Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print: 365 Daily Readings Through the Whole Bible
Retail: $29.99
Our Price: $20.99
Save: $9.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, The Prayer Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $35.99
Save: $24.00 (40%)
Buy Now
View more titles