Psalm 49 · a question people ask
Is Psalm 49 against being rich?
It calls "rich and poor together" (49:2) to listen, both of them. What it speaks against is trust: "Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches" (49:6). Another psalm says it with the same three Hebrew words, trusted, abundance and riches: "this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches" (Psalm 52:7). Psalm 49 tells its hearer not to be afraid of the rich: "Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dies he will carry nothing away" (49:16-17). And its last line is about "A man who has riches without understanding" (49:20). Another psalm says, "If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them" (Psalm 62:10). Psalm 49 doesn't say that having riches is wrong in itself, and these notes don't say more than it does.
The verses
“both low and high, rich and poor together.”
“Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—”
“Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.”
“A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.”