Psalms 49 · Verse 1

Psalms 49:1

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

Psalms 49:1, King James Version

Psalms 49:1 in other translations

BSB	For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
WEB	For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
ASV	For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye peoples; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,
YLT	To the Overseer. --By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.
DARBY	To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:
BBE	Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.
Webster	To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

What does Psalms 49:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 49:1-3

Psa 49:1-20. This Psalm instructs and consoles. It teaches that earthly advantages are not reliable for permanent happiness, and that, however prosperous worldly men may be for a time, their ultimate destiny is ruin, while the pious are safe in God's care.

1-3. All are called to hear what interests all. world--literally, "duration of life," the present time.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

All men are invited to attend to lessons of wisdom relative to the insufficiency of earthly good to save or prolong life; to secure the resurrection from the dead, Psa 49:1-9. Death is inevitable, Psa 49:10. The vain expectations of rich men, Psa 49:11-13. Death renders all alike, Psa 49:14. The psalmist encourages and fortifies himself against envying the apparently prosperous state of the wicked, who are brutish, and die like beasts, Psa 49:15-20. The title, To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah, has nothing particular in it; and the Versions say little about it. One of the descendants of the children of Korah might have been the author of it; but when or on what occasion it was made, cannot now be discovered. The author aimed to be obscure, and has succeeded; for it is very difficult to make out his meaning. It is so much in the style of the Book of Job, that one might believe they had the same author; and that this Psalm might have made originally a part of that book. "It seems," says Dr. Dodd, "to be a meditation on the vanity of riches, and the usual haughtiness of those who possess them. As a remedy for this, he sets before them the near prospect of death, from which no riches can save, in which no riches can avail. The author considers the subject he is treating as a kind of wisdom concealed from the world; a mystery, an occult science with respect to the generality of mankind." Dr. Kennicott has given an excellent translation of this Psalm which is very literal, simple, and elegant; and by it the reader will be convinced that a good translation of a difficult passage is often better than a comment. Verse 1 Hear this, all ye people - The four first verses contain the author's exordium or introduction, delivered in a very pompous style and promising the deepest lessons of wisdom and instruction. But what was rare then is common-place now.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 49:1-5

We seldom meet with a more solemn introduction: there is no truth of greater importance. Let all hear this with application to ourselves. The poor are in danger from undue desire toward the wealth of the world, as rich people from undue delight in it. The psalmist begins with applying it to himself, and that is the right method in which to treat of Divine things. Before he sets down the folly of carnal security, he lays down, from his own experience, the benefit and comfort of a holy, gracious security, which they enjoy who trust in God, and not in their worldly wealth. In the day of judgment, the iniquity of our heels, or of our steps, our past sins, will compass us. In those days, worldly, wicked people will be afraid; but wherefore should a man fear death who has God with him?

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 49:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

שִׁמְעוּ\־shim.'u-hearH8085

זֹ֭אתzotthisH2063

כָּל\־kol-O allH3605

הָֽעַמִּ֑יםha.'a.Mimthe peoplesH5971

הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינוּha.'a.Zi.nugive earH238

כָּל\־kol-O allH3605

יֹ֥שְׁבֵיYo.she.vei[the] inhabitants ofH3427

חָֽלֶד\׃Cha.led[the] worldH2465

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 49:1

Psalms 78:1
Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
Matthew 11:15
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Psalms 33:8
Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Romans 3:29
Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
Revelation 2:7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Romans 10:18
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Revelation 2:17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Isaiah 49:6
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Revelation 2:29
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Micah 1:2
Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
Psalms 34:11
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 An earnest persuasion to build the faith of resurrection, not on worldly power, but on God.
16 Worldly prosperity is not to be admired.

A.M. cir. 3464. B.C. cir. 540. (Title.) A Psalm.This Psalm was probably written by one of the descendants of the sons of Korah, during the Babylonian captivity.
for. or, of.
46:1; 48:1; *titles
Hear.
34:11; 78:1; Pr 1:20-23; Mt 11:15; 13:9; Re 2:7,11,17,29
inhabitants.
50:1; Isa 49:6; Mal 1:11; Mt 28:19,20; Ro 3:29; 10:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Psalms 49:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Psalms 49:2
Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

Read all of Psalms 49

Psalms 49:1 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Al Músico principal: Salmo para los hijos de Coré. OID esto, pueblos todos; escuchad, habitadores todos del mundo:
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	*Au chef de musique. Des fils de Coré. Psaume.
German Elberfelder 1871	Dem Vorsänger. Von den Söhnen Korahs, ein Psalm. Höret dies, ihr Völker alle; nehmet es zu Ohren, alle Bewohner der Welt;
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Psalmus Asaph. Deus deorum Dominus locutus est, et vocavit terram a solis ortu usque ad occasum.