Psalm 49 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Psalm 49 is a wisdom psalm that describes the difference between how righteous people and wicked people live and the difference between what happens to them. See the discussion of the types of psalms in the introduction to the book of Psalms. 1. Introduction: call to listen (1–4) 2. Reminder that all people die, just as animals do (5–13; refrain, 12) 3. The psalmist’s confident assertion that God will bring him out of Sheol (14–15) 4. Reassertion that all people die, just as animals do (16–19; refrain, 20)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Psalm

Life after death

This psalm teaches that having wealth and power cannot keep anyone from dying. All people, whether they are rich or poor, will die. But in verses 14–15, the psalmist expresses his confident expectation that God will not leave him in the place where people go when they die. Instead, God will take him out of there and bring him to himself. While the belief in life after death and the resurrection from the dead is expressed more clearly in the New Testament, that belief is also expressed in the Old Testament in places such as this. Translators should translate this psalm, especially verses 14 and 15, in such a way that it is clear that this Old Testament writer had this expectation.

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

לַ⁠מְנַצֵּ֬חַ

(la⁠mənaʦʦēaḩ)

The word translated as chief musician likely refers to the person in charge of music for worship. Some languages may have a term for a music leader. See how you translated the term “chief musician” in the superscription to Psalm 4. Alternate translation: [For the leader of worship music] or [For the music director]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לִ⁠בְנֵי־קֹ֬רַח

(li⁠ⱱənēy-qoraḩ)

See how you translated the expression “the sons of Korah” in the superscription to Psalm 42. Alternate translation: [of the descendants of Korah] or [of the Korahites]