Psalms 49:6
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Study Note
Study Note
The rhetorical contrast between those who 'trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches' and the psalmist's counter-wisdom inaugurates a meditation on death as the great equalizer — wealth cannot ransom a soul from the grave (49:7-9). The wisdom-psalm genre shapes the argument: this is not covenant lawsuit but philosophical reflection on human mortality in the tradition of Qohelet (Ecclesiastes 5:10-15). The specific verb 'trust' (batah) — the word used for covenant confidence in God (Psalm 22:4; Isaiah 26:4) — applied to wealth diagnoses idolatry as misplaced security rather than merely immorality. Jesus applies this logic in the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21) and the Sermon on the Mount's 'treasures on earth' (Matthew 6:19-21).
Other Translations
They that trust in their wealth, And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.
Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.
Cross References
Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in …
And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is …
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, …
If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because …
With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy …
And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall …
Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and …