Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Psalm 49:1 opens with a universal summons. The psalmist is not speaking about a narrow private matter, but about wisdom that concerns every man. The rest of the psalm will warn against trusting in wealth, glory, honour, houses, lands, reputation, and worldly continuance. It will declare that no man can redeem his brother, give to God a ransom for him, or keep himself alive for ever (vv.6-9). Therefore, the first word is necessary: “Hear.”
“Hear this.” The psalm begins by demanding attention. Men are quick to hear news, profit, flattery, entertainment, and counsel that agrees with their desires; but the truth most needful for the soul is often neglected. The psalmist calls men to hear what God says about life, death, riches, redemption, and understanding. This is not optional wisdom for thoughtful men only. It is truth every man must face.
The word “this” points forward to the instruction of the psalm. The matter to be heard is weighty: riches cannot save, death comes to all, honour fades, the grave receives both fool and wise, and only God can redeem the soul from the power of the grave (vv.6-15). The psalmist is not asking for attention to his personality, style, experience, or reputation. He is summoning men to hear divine wisdom.
“All ye people.” The call is wide. No nation, class, age, rank, or condition is excluded. The next verse makes this explicit: “Both low and high, rich and poor, together” (v.2). The poor must hear because poverty does not make a man wise by itself. The rich must hear because wealth often deceives the heart. The low must hear because obscurity does not excuse ignorance. The high must hear because honour cannot protect from death.
This breadth fits the subject. Death is universal, so the warning must be universal. Rich and poor die alike. Wise men die, fools perish, and brutish persons leave their wealth to others (v.10). Men may differ greatly in houses, titles, possessions, influence, and reputation, but they are alike in mortality. Therefore, all people must hear the lesson. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
“Give ear.” The command is repeated in different words. The repetition is not vain, for men need to be pressed to listen to truths they would rather avoid. To give ear is to bend attention toward the message. It is to hear seriously, not casually. A man who reads Psalm 49 lightly has not obeyed verse 1. This psalm demands that the hearer stop, consider his end, judge earthly honour rightly, and learn where redemption is found.
This phrase also teaches the danger of careless hearing. A man may hear the sound of Scripture and miss its warning. He may hear sermons about death and return at once to living as if he will abide for ever. He may hear that riches cannot redeem, then spend his strength chasing riches. The ear has heard, but the heart has not considered. Psalm 49 calls for better hearing than that.
“All ye inhabitants of the world.” The phrase widens the call again. Men are inhabitants of the world, but they are not permanent owners of it. They dwell here for a time. They build houses, name lands after themselves, gather goods, establish families, pursue honour, and imagine continuance; yet they must leave all. The psalm later says, “their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever,” but “man being in honour abideth not” (vv.11-12). The inhabitants of the world must hear because they will soon leave the world.
This wording also humbles human pride. The world is full of inhabitants, each often thinking his own concerns greatest. Kings, merchants, scholars, labourers, rich men, poor men, rulers, servants, old men, young men, and children all fill the earth with their pursuits. Yet the psalm gathers them under one address. All must hear the same truth. No man’s station exempts him from God’s wisdom.
Psalm 49 especially speaks to the temptation to trust in outward advantage. Some trust in wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches (v.6). Some seek honour and earthly remembrance (v.11). Some are praised by others while they do well to themselves (v.18). But all this praise, honour, and increase cannot stop the grave. A man may be admired by the world and still be without understanding. The psalm ends with the searching sentence: “Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish” (v.20).
Therefore, verse 1 is merciful. God causes men to be warned before the end comes. He does not leave the rich to sleep in false security or the poor to envy what cannot save. He summons all to hear. The man who listens may learn to stop fearing the prosperity of the wicked, stop trusting in riches, stop measuring life by honour, and start seeking the redemption only God can give.
The psalmist will later give the great contrast: “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me” (v.15). This is the bright word in the psalm. Men cannot redeem one another, but God can redeem His people. Riches fail, but God does not. Honour fades, but God receives. The grave takes the body, but God redeems the soul from its power.
In the fuller light of the New Testament, this redemption is in Jesus Christ. He did what no rich man could do. He gave Himself a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). He redeemed His people with His precious blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). He abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:10). Therefore Psalm 49’s warning against earthly confidence leads the wise hearer to Christ, the only Redeemer stronger than death.
Psalm 49:1 therefore begins with a call every man must obey. Hear this. Give ear. The poor must hear. The rich must hear. The low must hear. The high must hear. All inhabitants of the world must hear. Wealth cannot ransom the soul. Honour cannot prevent death. Earthly continuance is a dream. But God redeems His people from the power of the grave. Blessed is the man who gives ear before death teaches him too late.
Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Psalm 49:1 opens with a universal summons. The psalmist is not speaking about a narrow private matter, but about wisdom that concerns every man. The rest of the psalm will warn against trusting in wealth, glory, honour, houses, lands, reputation, and worldly continuance. It will declare that no man can redeem his brother, give to God a ransom for him, or keep himself alive for ever (vv.6-9). Therefore, the first word is necessary: “Hear.”
“Hear this.” The psalm begins by demanding attention. Men are quick to hear news, profit, flattery, entertainment, and counsel that agrees with their desires; but the truth most needful for the soul is often neglected. The psalmist calls men to hear what God says about life, death, riches, redemption, and understanding. This is not optional wisdom for thoughtful men only. It is truth every man must face.
The word “this” points forward to the instruction of the psalm. The matter to be heard is weighty: riches cannot save, death comes to all, honour fades, the grave receives both fool and wise, and only God can redeem the soul from the power of the grave (vv.6-15). The psalmist is not asking for attention to his personality, style, experience, or reputation. He is summoning men to hear divine wisdom.
“All ye people.” The call is wide. No nation, class, age, rank, or condition is excluded. The next verse makes this explicit: “Both low and high, rich and poor, together” (v.2). The poor must hear because poverty does not make a man wise by itself. The rich must hear because wealth often deceives the heart. The low must hear because obscurity does not excuse ignorance. The high must hear because honour cannot protect from death.
This breadth fits the subject. Death is universal, so the warning must be universal. Rich and poor die alike. Wise men die, fools perish, and brutish persons leave their wealth to others (v.10). Men may differ greatly in houses, titles, possessions, influence, and reputation, but they are alike in mortality. Therefore, all people must hear the lesson. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
“Give ear.” The command is repeated in different words. The repetition is not vain, for men need to be pressed to listen to truths they would rather avoid. To give ear is to bend attention toward the message. It is to hear seriously, not casually. A man who reads Psalm 49 lightly has not obeyed verse 1. This psalm demands that the hearer stop, consider his end, judge earthly honour rightly, and learn where redemption is found.
This phrase also teaches the danger of careless hearing. A man may hear the sound of Scripture and miss its warning. He may hear sermons about death and return at once to living as if he will abide for ever. He may hear that riches cannot redeem, then spend his strength chasing riches. The ear has heard, but the heart has not considered. Psalm 49 calls for better hearing than that.
“All ye inhabitants of the world.” The phrase widens the call again. Men are inhabitants of the world, but they are not permanent owners of it. They dwell here for a time. They build houses, name lands after themselves, gather goods, establish families, pursue honour, and imagine continuance; yet they must leave all. The psalm later says, “their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever,” but “man being in honour abideth not” (vv.11-12). The inhabitants of the world must hear because they will soon leave the world.
This wording also humbles human pride. The world is full of inhabitants, each often thinking his own concerns greatest. Kings, merchants, scholars, labourers, rich men, poor men, rulers, servants, old men, young men, and children all fill the earth with their pursuits. Yet the psalm gathers them under one address. All must hear the same truth. No man’s station exempts him from God’s wisdom.
Psalm 49 especially speaks to the temptation to trust in outward advantage. Some trust in wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches (v.6). Some seek honour and earthly remembrance (v.11). Some are praised by others while they do well to themselves (v.18). But all this praise, honour, and increase cannot stop the grave. A man may be admired by the world and still be without understanding. The psalm ends with the searching sentence: “Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish” (v.20).
Therefore, verse 1 is merciful. God causes men to be warned before the end comes. He does not leave the rich to sleep in false security or the poor to envy what cannot save. He summons all to hear. The man who listens may learn to stop fearing the prosperity of the wicked, stop trusting in riches, stop measuring life by honour, and start seeking the redemption only God can give.
The psalmist will later give the great contrast: “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me” (v.15). This is the bright word in the psalm. Men cannot redeem one another, but God can redeem His people. Riches fail, but God does not. Honour fades, but God receives. The grave takes the body, but God redeems the soul from its power.
In the fuller light of the New Testament, this redemption is in Jesus Christ. He did what no rich man could do. He gave Himself a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). He redeemed His people with His precious blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). He abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:10). Therefore Psalm 49’s warning against earthly confidence leads the wise hearer to Christ, the only Redeemer stronger than death.
Psalm 49:1 therefore begins with a call every man must obey. Hear this. Give ear. The poor must hear. The rich must hear. The low must hear. The high must hear. All inhabitants of the world must hear. Wealth cannot ransom the soul. Honour cannot prevent death. Earthly continuance is a dream. But God redeems His people from the power of the grave. Blessed is the man who gives ear before death teaches him too late.