PSALM 49

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

Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: Both low and high, rich and poor, together. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp. Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about? They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. 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. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49, KJV)

Psalm 49

Death and Prosperity

The Psalmist call us to Bible wisdom
About the emptiness of riches,
A call to wise men everywhere,
To shun materialism and riches.

The Psalm comforts the righteous,
And abhors the sinful man’s destiny.
Since man is eternal, only God 
Can redeem, buy back, set us free.

Ancient Literature and the Bible
Both say without wisdom we live
Like animals when we do not
Consider faith for the eternal city.

Life is short. We do not make it
Through the night until morning.
Yet, there is a bright morning
For the upright; there’s is no mourning.

Death is the shepherd of the infidel,
But Christ is the shepherd of those who
Trust, and the spiritual are higher
Than the angels of God thereto.

(c) Rex H. Henderson 2003

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