Psalm 49:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life,

NIV: No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—

NASB: No one can by any means redeem another Or give God a ransom for him—

CSB: Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God —

NLT: Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.

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

NKJV: None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him—

The writer of this psalm is untangling the "riddle" (Psalm 49:1–4) of wicked people who seem to become rich by unjust means, or use their riches unrighteously, without consequences (Psalm 49:5–6). His answer, in part, is that no human being can earn enough money to pay off their debt to God. The debt of sin against the Creator cannot be paid for with possessions we did not create and cannot keep (Luke 12:19–20; Proverbs 11:4; 23:4–5). No man can accumulate enough wealth to save his own soul, or anyone else's (Titus 3:5). Rather than being frustrated by the success of an immoral person, we should remember their dire fate (Psalm 73:2–3, 15–20).

Jesus asked, "For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" (Luke 9:25). When a rich man asked Jesus how to gain eternal life, Jesus told him to sell all his possessions. That command was targeted directly at that man, who was willing to do many things for God—but not become poor (Luke 18:18–23). Jesus commented: "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God" (Luke 18:24–25). The wealthy man made the fatal mistake of prioritizing riches over his soul.

Psalm 49:5–12 begins to describe and unravel the "riddle" previously mentioned. Though God warns about sin, wicked people may still prosper on earth. This can be discouraging to those who follow God but suffer at the hands of evil people. As the psalmist explains, ungodly people can only have a false sense of security. Wealth cannot buy pardon from sin. Ultimately, they will die and leave their wealth to others. The God-honoring person, however, has nothing to fear in eternity.

The "riddle" in question is the fact that some rich persons are also wicked and ungodly. Rich and poor, alike, should remember that money is temporary. It is not a substitute for God's approval. All people face death and God's judgment. There is no reason to envy a person who has earthly wealth but lacks eternal hope.

As did Psalm 73, this passage tackles the riddle of how to respond to prosperity among those who reject God. Just as did Asaph (Psalm 73:15–19), the psalmist concludes that the prosperous wicked face a hopeless end. The righteous have an endless hope. This psalm is rightfully regarded as a wisdom psalm. Several themes, such as the temporary nature of wealth, are echoed in the book of Proverbs.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.