Read Psalm 49 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph:
Psa 49:1-20 {p} The folly of trusting in the world’s esteem
Psalm 49:1-20 Chiastic structure:
This psalm Contrasts the man whom the world esteems, with the upright.
The man whom the world esteems is someone who appears honorable or of high degree—perhaps wealthy, influential, or famous—but because they trust in their wealth or status to secure them, they lack true stability. They will go to the grave, and their exalted status cannot prevent that. Their great wealth or glory is not enough to ransom their soul with God. Lacking this basic wisdom shows up the folly of whomever the world esteems. Their esteem is hollow, and they are like the dumb beasts that perish.
But the upright, though not esteemed by the world, will have dominion over them. God redeems the upright from the power of the grave. They are not like dumb beasts that perish.
The Hebrew Root Word, Strong’s H3365, יקר yaqar, “to esteem,” is the same found in Isaiah 43 describing those deemed precious by God. The true status of those whom the world esteems, and those whom God esteems, are polar opposites.
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