Read Psalm 49 at Bible Gateway.
I just started reading The Literary Structure of the Old Testament by David A. Dorsey. Even though there are some limitations in its usefulness (although he knows about the Hebrew paragraph divisions, he thinks they were put in place by later editors, and therefore ignores their value as the Holy Spirit’s helpful guide in uncovering the chiastic structures embedded in the text), I have learned some things about the different patterns found in the Psalms. For example, some of the psalms open with an introduction which does not pair with anything else, and others close with a conclusion which does not pair with anything else. I had not seen that pattern before until this psalm:
Introduction) Psa 49:1-4, Hear + give hear, all the world: my mouth shall speak wisdom/ I will disclose it on the harp;
1a) Psa 49:5-12, Why should I fear when those who trust in their riches increase, when their iniquity surrounds me? His wealth is not enough to ransom his soul! Even though he thinks he will last forever, he will perish and leave his wealth to others; he does not live in honor but is like the beasts that perish:
1) Psa 49:5-6, Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters surrounds me? Of them who trust + boast in their wealth + riches;
2) Psa 49:7-8, No man can redeem + ransom his brother’s soul, for it is too costly;
3) Psa 49:9-11, That he + his dwellings should live forever + last forever/ for all alike perish, leaving their wealth to others:
1a) Psa 49:9, That he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit;
central axis) Psa 49:10, For the wise and the foolish alike perish {n} and leave their wealth to others;
2a) Psa 49:11, They think their houses + dwellings will last forever + to all generations; {n} they call their lands after their own names;
4) Psa 49:12, Nevertheless man abides not in honor; he is like the beasts that perish;
1b) Psa 49:13, This is the way of those who are foolish, and of their posterity who approve their sayings; Selah
1c) Psa 49:14a, Like sheep they are appointed for the grave; death shall be their shepherd; {n}
central axis) Psa 49:14b, The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;
2c) Psa 49:14c, And their form shall be consumed in the grave, that there be no habitation for it [their soul];
2b) Psa 49:15, [This is the way of the righteous] God will redeem my soul from the grave/ He shall receive me;
2a) Psa 49:15-20, God will redeem my soul from the grave, therefore do not fear when the rich increase, for when he dies he cannot take his wealth with him, even though now he blesses himself and men praise him; a man so honored understands not that he is like the beasts that perish:
2) Psa 49:15, But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me; Selah
1) Psa 49:16, Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
3) Psa 49:17-19, When he dies he will not take his wealth with him/ while he lives he blesses himself + men praise him:
1a) Psa 49:17, For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him;
central axis) Psa 49:18, Though while he lives he blesses himself – for men will praise you when you do well for yourself;
2a) Psa 49:19, He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light;
4) Psa 49:20, A man who is honored understands not; he is like the beasts that perish. {p}
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