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Dhammapada · narration sample

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The Bible · 527 of 1189

Psalms 49

1.Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

2.Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

3.My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

4.I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

5.Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

6.They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

7.None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

8.(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

9.That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

10.For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

11.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.

12.Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

13.This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

14.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.

15.But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

16.Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

17.For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

18.Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

19.He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

20.Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

Asked of Guide

Why does the psalm say wealth can't redeem a person from death or corruption?

The psalm insists wealth cannot purchase eternal life because death levels everyone: “wise men die… the fool and the brutish person perish” and riches are left to others. Verses 6–12 and 16–18 show the pride of the rich—boasting in “multitude of their riches” and imagining their houses will endure—yet their fate is the same as animals that perish.

The poet contrasts that worldly security with God’s power to save: “God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave” (v.15). This echoes Ecclesiastes’ theme that earthly gain cannot master death and points readers toward trust in God rather than in accumulated wealth.

Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.