_HEAR THIS, ALL YE PEOPLE; GIVE EAR, ALL YE INHABITANTS OF THE WORLD:_ The enigma solved, why the ungodly prosper while the godly are persecuted. So Psalms 37:1; Psalms 73:1, Psalms 49:1.-All classes called to hear the heaven-inspired lesson of "wisdom" (Psalms 49:1); the thesis (Psalms 49:5); the... [ Continue Reading ]
_BOTH LOW AND HIGH, RICH AND POOR, TOGETHER._ Both low and high - literally, sons of an ordinary man х_ 'AADAAM_ (H120)], and sons of a distinguished man х_ 'IYSH_ (H376)]. The Psalmist's monitions will warn the rich (Psalms 49:6; Psalms 49:17) and console the poor (Psalms 49:15).... [ Continue Reading ]
_MY MOUTH SHALL SPEAK OF WISDOM; AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART SHALL BE OF UNDERSTANDING._ My mouth shall speak of wisdom - suggested by the Divine Spirit of "wisdom" (Proverbs 8:1; 1 Corinthians 2:13). The Son of God is the embodiment of this wisdom (Colossians 2:3).... [ Continue Reading ]
_I WILL INCLINE MINE EAR TO A PARABLE: I WILL OPEN MY DARK SAYING UPON THE HARP._ I will incline mine ear to a parable - or 'similitude' х_ MAASHAAL_ (H4912)]: a sententiously expressed truth. "I will incline mine ear to" it implies that the wisdom which he is about to impart is not of his own acqu... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHEREFORE SHOULD I FEAR IN THE DAYS OF EVIL, WHEN THE INIQUITY OF MY HEELS SHALL COMPASS ME ABOUT?_ Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about - rather 'when the iniquity of my treacherous foes' (or supplanters, (Genesis 25:26; Genesis 27:36)... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEY THAT TRUST IN THEIR WEALTH, AND BOAST THEMSELVES IN THE MULTITUDE OF THEIR RICHES;_ They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches. This sentence is not joined with Psalms 49:7, as in the English version, but is in apposition with "my treacherous foes,... [ Continue Reading ]
_NONE OF THEM CAN BY ANY MEANS REDEEM HIS BROTHER, NOR GIVE TO GOD A RANSOM FOR HIM:_ -The godly has no cause for overwhelming fear because of the power of the ungodly; nor has the ungodly reason to boast over the godly because of his own worldly greatness. This might be so if the ungodly could ens... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR HE SEETH THAT WISE MEN DIE, LIKEWISE THE FOOL AND THE BRUTISH PERSON PERISH, AND LEAVE THEIR WEALTH TO OTHERS._ -The universality of death might show the ungodly rich man that God may call him away at any moment. Their inward thought is that their possessions are immortal; but however men may... [ Continue Reading ]
_THIS THEIR WAY IS THEIR FOLLY: YET THEIR POSTERITY APPROVE THEIR SAYINGS. SELAH._ This their way (is) their folly - "their way," whereby they virtually think themselves immortal, and therefore desire their houses to continue forever, wise as they regard it, "is their folly," as the event shows. Or... [ Continue Reading ]
_LIKE SHEEP THEY ARE LAID IN THE GRAVE; DEATH SHALL FEED ON THEM; AND THE UPRIGHT SHALL HAVE DOMINION OVER THEM IN THE MORNING; AND THEIR BEAUTY SHALL CONSUME IN THE GRAVE FROM THEIR DWELLING._ Like sheep they are laid in the grave (so Psalms 49:12; Psalms 49:20.) AND THE UPRIGHT SHALL HAVE DOMINI... [ Continue Reading ]
_BUT GOD WILL REDEEM MY SOUL FROM THE POWER OF THE GRAVE: FOR HE SHALL RECEIVE ME. SELAH._ But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave - in contrast to the wicked, on whom 'death shall feed' eternally. "But" - literally, 'only' х_ 'AK_ (H389)], in contrast to Psalms 49:7, "None of them... [ Continue Reading ]
_BE NOT THOU AFRAID WHEN ONE IS MADE RICH, WHEN THE GLORY OF HIS HOUSE IS INCREASED;_ The conclusion (Psalms 49:16). BE NOT THOU AFRAID WHEN ONE IS MADE RICH - resuming Psalms 49:5, "Wherefore should I fear," etc. WHEN THE GLORY OF HIS HOUSE IS INCREASED - by the possession of wealth.... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR WHEN HE DIETH HE SHALL CARRY NOTHING AWAY: HIS GLORY SHALL NOT DESCEND AFTER HIM._ For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away. Speedily coming, death shall put an end to all his present power of persecuting the godly.... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOUGH WHILE HE LIVED HE BLESSED HIS SOUL: AND MEN WILL PRAISE THEE, WHEN THOU DOEST WELL TO THYSELF._ Though while he lived he blessed his soul - as the rich fool congratulated himself on his own happiness, and blessed his soul (Luke 12:19; cf. note, Psalms 49:11). AND (MEN) WILL PRAISE THEE, WH... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE SHALL GO TO THE GENERATION OF HIS FATHERS; THEY SHALL NEVER SEE LIGHT._ He - or, 'it (the soul) shall go,' for the Hebrew verb is feminine. Hengstenberg takes it second person, 'THOU shalt go,' etc.; but then there must be supposed a sudden transition to the third person again, "to the generati... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAN THAT IS IN HONOUR, AND UNDERSTANDETH NOT, IS LIKE THE BEASTS THAT PERISH._ Slightly varied from Psalms 49:12, as is usual in Hebrew poetry. MAN THAT IS IN HONOUR, AND UNDERSTANDETH NOT, IS LIKE THE BEASTS THAT PERISH. The summary of the whole is, the man that lacks spiritual understanding, h... [ Continue Reading ]