(ื) ืึทืึฐื ึทืฆึตึผืึท ืึดืึฐื ึตื ืงึนืจึทื ืึดืึฐืืึนืจ: (ื) ืฉึดืืึฐืขืึผ ืึนืืช ืึธึผื ืึธืขึทืึดึผืื ืึทืึฒืึดืื ืึผ ืึธึผื ืึนืฉึฐืืึตื ืึธืึถื:
(1) For the musician, by the sons of Korach, a mizmor. (2) Listen to this all [you] nations, incline your ear all who dwell in this transitory world.
NOTE: For a PDF of this mizmor, please click here. This will enable you to print out the entire text of the article. [Rev 6]
Key Concepts of Mizmor 049 – Priorities
The theme of the mizmor is the role of material possessions in a personโs life. Each person was put on this earth for a higher purpose, not simply to accumulate and enjoy material possessions. On the contrary, those possessions were given to him as a means to fulfill his spiritual mission on earth. If he does so he can salvage his spiritual existence so that it will reach beyond his short time here.
If, however, he fails to recognize his true purpose in life and if he regards the acquisition of material wealth as an end in itself, then he will forfeit immortality. He will be no better than an animal and ultimately his existence will come to an end in the grave.
Exploring the Mizmor
PART 1. CALL TO MANKIND. The singer calls upon people everywhere to hear his important message concerning the pursuit of material wealth, for it applies to all humanity.
(ื) ืึทืึฐื ึทืฆึตึผืึท ืึดืึฐื ึตื ืงึนืจึทื ืึดืึฐืืึนืจ: (ื) ืฉึดืืึฐืขืึผ ืึนืืช ืึธึผื ืึธืขึทืึดึผืื ืึทืึฒืึดืื ืึผ ืึธึผื ืึนืฉึฐืืึตื ืึธืึถื: (ื) ืึทึผื ืึฐึผื ึตื ืึธืึธื ืึทึผื ืึฐึผื ึตื ืึดืืฉื ืึทืึทื ืขึธืฉึดืืืจ ืึฐืึถืึฐืืึนื: (ื) ืคึดึผื ืึฐืึทืึตึผืจ ืึธืึฐืืึนืช ืึฐืึธืืึผืช ืึดืึดึผื ืชึฐืืึผื ืึนืช: (ื) ืึทืึถึผื ืึฐืึธืฉึธืื ืึธืึฐื ึดื ืึถืคึฐืชึทึผื ืึฐึผืึดื ึผืึนืจ ืึดืืึธืชึดื:
(1) For the musician, by the sons of Korach, a mizmor. (2) Listen to this all [you] nations, incline your ear all who dwell in this transitory world. (3) Ordinary men as well as men of distinction, rich and poor alike. (4) My mouth speaks words of wisdom [and] the meditations of my heart [that have yielded] insight. (5) I incline my ear [to my own] analogy. I will open my symbolic text with a harp.
PART 2. THE FUTILITY OF WEALTH. The singer challenges his audience not to place their trust in material wealth. It will not save them from the consequences of their sins.
(ื) ืึธืึธึผื ืึดืืจึธื ืึดึผืืึตื ืจึธืข ืขึฒืึนื ืขึฒืงึตืึทื ืึฐืกืึผืึตึผื ึดื: (ื) ืึทืึนึผืึฐืึดืื ืขึทื ืึตืืึธื ืึผืึฐืจึนื ืขึธืฉึฐืืจึธื ืึดืชึฐืึทืึธึผืืึผ: (ื) ืึธื ืึนื ืคึธืึนื ืึดืคึฐืึถึผื ืึดืืฉื ืึนื ืึดืชึตึผื ืึตืืึนืึดืื ืึธึผืคึฐืจืึน: (ื) ืึฐืึตืงึทืจ ืคึดึผืึฐืืึนื ื ึทืคึฐืฉึธืื ืึฐืึธืึทื ืึฐืขืึนืึธื: (ื) ืึดืืึดื ืขืึนื ืึธื ึถืฆึทื ืึนื ืึดืจึฐืึถื ืึทืฉึธึผืืึทืช: (ืื) ืึดึผื ืึดืจึฐืึถื ืึฒืึธืึดืื ืึธืืึผืชืึผ ืึทืึทื ืึฐึผืกึดืื ืึธืึทืขึทืจ ืึนืืึตืืึผ ืึฐืขึธืึฐืืึผ ืึทืึฒืึตืจึดืื ืึตืืึธื:
(6) Why should I [devote myself to material wealth because I] fear bad times? The sin [following] on my heels will surround me. (7) Those who place their trust in their wealth and take pride in the abundance of their riches [should be afraid]. (8) A man cannot redeem [his own] brother [from death]. He cannot give his ransom to G-d [for his own life]. (9) The redemption of their soul [for money] is unattainable. [After death, repentance] is ended forever. (10) [He thinks] he will live forever, never to see the pit. (11) He sees that wise men die, that the fool and the boor both perish and leave their wealth to others.
PART 3. THE GRAVE AWAITS. To make his audience face the seriousness of their situation he reminds them that a person devoted to material wealth is no better than an animal that has no future beyond death.
(ืื) ืงึดืจึฐืึธึผื ืึธึผืชึตึผืืืึน ืึฐืขืึนืึธื ืึดืฉึฐืืึฐึผื ึนืชึธื ืึฐืึนืจ ืึธืึนืจ ืงึธืจึฐืืึผ ืึดืฉึฐืืืึนืชึธื ืขึฒืึตื ืึฒืึธืืึนืช: (ืื) ืึฐืึธืึธื ืึดึผืืงึธืจ ืึทึผื ืึธืึดืื ื ึดืึฐืฉึทืื ืึทึผืึฐึผืึตืืึนืช ื ึดืึฐืืึผ: (ืื) ืึถื ืึทืจึฐืึธึผื ืึตึผืกึถื ืึธืืึน ืึฐืึทืึฒืจึตืืึถื ืึฐึผืคึดืืึถื ืึดืจึฐืฆืึผ ืกึถืึธื: (ืื) ืึทึผืฆึนึผืื ืึดืฉึฐืืืึนื ืฉึทืืชึผืึผ ืึธืึถืช ืึดืจึฐืขึตื ืึทืึดึผืจึฐืึผืึผ ืึธื ืึฐืฉึธืืจึดืื ืึทืึนึผืงึถืจ ืืฆืืจื ืึฐืฆืึผืจึธื ืึฐืึทืึผืึนืช ืฉึฐืืืึนื ืึดืึฐึผืึปื ืืึน: (ืื) ืึทืึฐ ืึฑืึนืงึดืื ืึดืคึฐืึถึผื ื ึทืคึฐืฉึดืื ืึดืึทึผื ืฉึฐืืืึนื ืึดึผื ืึดืงึธึผืึตื ึดื ืกึถืึธื:
(12) Their innards [imagine] their houses [to be] eternity, their dwellings [as lasting] from generation to generation. They have proclaimed their names on [their] land. (13) But with honor [alone] a man will not survive the night . [Such men are] comparable to the animals that fall silent [when they die.] (14) This way of theirs is their folly. And yet [their children] after them [follow] their mouths willingly, Selah! (15) They have set themselves as sheep for the grave. Death will shepherd them. The upright will supersede them at the dawn. Their strength [is destined] to outlast the grave, rather than being its rotted remains. (16) But, may G-d redeem my soul from the power of the grave. May He take me [to Him for eternal life], Selah!
PART 4. BEYOND THE GRAVE. The singer again uses the comparison between men and animals, reminding his audience that if a person fails to develop his moral and spiritual qualities in this world he will be like an animal that has nothing to take with it beyond the grave.
(ืื) ืึทื ืชึดึผืืจึธื ืึดึผื ืึทืขึฒืฉึดืืจ ืึดืืฉื ืึดึผื ืึดืจึฐืึถึผื ืึฐึผืืึนื ืึตึผืืชืึน: (ืื) ืึดึผื ืึนื ืึฐืืึนืชืึน ืึดืงึทึผื ืึทืึนึผื ืึนื ืึตืจึตื ืึทืึฒืจึธืื ืึฐึผืืึนืืึน: (ืื) ืึดึผื ื ึทืคึฐืฉืืึน ืึฐึผืึทืึธึผืื ืึฐืึธืจึตืึฐ ืึฐืืึนืึปืึธ ืึดึผื ืชึตืืึดืื ืึธืึฐ: (ื) ืชึธึผืืึนื ืขึทื ืึผืึนืจ ืึฒืืึนืชึธืื ืขึทื ื ึตืฆึทื ืึนื ืึดืจึฐืืึผ ืืึนืจ: (ืื) ืึธืึธื ืึดึผืืงึธืจ ืึฐืึนื ืึธืึดืื ื ึดืึฐืฉึทืื ืึทึผืึฐึผืึตืืึนืช ื ึดืึฐืืึผ:
(17) Donโt be troubled when a man grows rich, when he increases the glory of his house. (18) For upon his death he will not take anything [with him]. His glory will not descend after him. (19) Even though during his lifetime he blesses himself, โThey will praise you because you have done well for yourself.โ (20) But if you come [to study] the generation of his fathers, they will see no light for all eternity. (21) Even with [wealth and] honor, [if] a man does not understand, he is comparable to the animals that fall silent.
Learning the Mizmor
PART 1. CALL TO MANKIND.
(ื) ืึทืึฐื ึทืฆึตึผืึท ืึดืึฐื ึตื ืงึนืจึทื ืึดืึฐืืึนืจ:
This mizmor was prepared by the sons of Korach โ ืึดืึฐื ึตื ืงึนืจึทื ืึดืึฐืืึนืจ โ through the power of nevuah. It was subsequently incorporated by David into the Book of Tehillim and was turned over to the musician โ ืึทืึฐื ึทืฆึตึผืึท โ to be performed.
(ื) ืฉึดืืึฐืขืึผ ืึนืืช ืึธึผื ืึธืขึทืึดึผืื
ืึทืึฒืึดืื ืึผ ืึธึผื ืึนืฉึฐืืึตื ืึธืึถื:
ืึทืึฒืึดืื ืึผ ืึธึผื ืึนืฉึฐืืึตื ืึธืึถื:
Listen to this โ ืฉึดืืึฐืขืึผ ืึนืืช โ earnest message all you nations โ ืึธึผื ืึธืขึทืึดึผืื , incline your ear โ ืึทืึฒืึดืื ืึผ โ and pay attention all you who dwell in this transitory world โ ืึธึผื ืึนืฉึฐืืึตื ืึธืึถื . My message applies to everyone without exception, whether you are a public person or a private individual. Your time on this earth is short-lived. It is too valuable to waste. Accept my words of wisdom and rescue your spiritual existence, which is immortal.
(ื) ืึทึผื ืึฐึผื ึตื ืึธืึธื ืึทึผื ืึฐึผื ึตื ืึดืืฉื
ืึทืึทื ืขึธืฉึดืืืจ ืึฐืึถืึฐืืึนื:
ืึทืึทื ืขึธืฉึดืืืจ ืึฐืึถืึฐืืึนื:
What I have to say is for ordinary men as well as men of distinction โ ืึทึผื ืึฐึผื ึตื ืึธืึธื ืึทึผื ืึฐึผื ึตื ืึดืืฉื , rich and poor alike โ ืึทืึทื ืขึธืฉึดืืืจ ืึฐืึถืึฐืืึนื .
(ื) ืคึดึผื ืึฐืึทืึตึผืจ ืึธืึฐืืึนืช
ืึฐืึธืืึผืช ืึดืึดึผื ืชึฐืืึผื ืึนืช:
ืึฐืึธืืึผืช ืึดืึดึผื ืชึฐืืึผื ืึนืช:
My mouth speaks words of wisdom โ ืคึดึผื ืึฐืึทืึตึผืจ ืึธืึฐืืึนืช . These are the received teachings that can guide you in making good choices in life. But to correctly apply those choices you need a level of insight and understanding. And so I am also sharing with you the meditations of my heart that have yielded the insight โ ืึฐืึธืืึผืช ืึดืึดึผื ืชึฐืืึผื ืึนืช โ necessary to implement these teachings.
(ื) ืึทืึถึผื ืึฐืึธืฉึธืื ืึธืึฐื ึดื
ืึถืคึฐืชึทึผื ืึฐึผืึดื ึผืึนืจ ืึดืืึธืชึดื:
ืึถืคึฐืชึทึผื ืึฐึผืึดื ึผืึนืจ ืึดืืึธืชึดื:
I incline my ear to listen to my own poetic analogy โ ืึทืึถึผื ืึฐืึธืฉึธืื ืึธืึฐื ึดื โ at the same time that I present it, for the lesson it conveys applies to me just as much as to my listeners. And after I have fully absorbed the lesson in my own life, I will open up and interpret the hidden meaning of my symbolic text with my harp โ ืึถืคึฐืชึทึผื ืึฐึผืึดื ึผืึนืจ ืึดืืึธืชึดื โ for the benefit of others. The rhythm and melody of the music will lend meaning to words that might seem opaque otherwise.
PART 2. THE FUTILITY OF WEALTH.
(ื) ืึธืึธึผื ืึดืืจึธื ืึดึผืืึตื ืจึธืข
ืขึฒืึนื ืขึฒืงึตืึทื ืึฐืกืึผืึตึผื ึดื:
ืขึฒืึนื ืขึฒืงึตืึทื ืึฐืกืึผืึตึผื ึดื:
Why I should I devote my life to accumulating wealth for old age or sickness? Why should I fear bad times โ ืึธืึธึผื ืึดืืจึธื ืึดึผืืึตื ืจึธืข ? My true protection is Hashem. The only thing I really have to fear is the sin โ ืขึฒืึนื โ that follows on my heels โ ืขึฒืงึตืึทื โ in the course of my pursuit of wealth. If I donโt correct my ways, such sin will surround me โ ืึฐืกืึผืึตึผื ึดื โ and will be the cause of my suffering.
(ื) ืึทืึนึผืึฐืึดืื ืขึทื ืึตืืึธื
ืึผืึฐืจึนื ืขึธืฉึฐืืจึธื ืึดืชึฐืึทืึธึผืืึผ:
ืึผืึฐืจึนื ืขึธืฉึฐืืจึธื ืึดืชึฐืึทืึธึผืืึผ:
The people who should be afraid when times are bad are those who place their trust in their wealth โ ืึทืึนึผืึฐืึดืื ืขึทื ืึตืืึธื โ to protect them from trouble and who take pride in the abundance of their riches โ ืึผืึฐืจึนื ืขึธืฉึฐืืจึธื ืึดืชึฐืึทืึธึผืืึผ . A person should never take pride in his money, but rather in the wisdom he has acquired and the good he has done.
(ื) ืึธื ืึนื ืคึธืึนื ืึดืคึฐืึถึผื ืึดืืฉื
ืึนื ืึดืชึตึผื ืึตืืึนืงึดืื ืึธึผืคึฐืจืึน:
ืึนื ืึดืชึตึผื ืึตืืึนืงึดืื ืึธึผืคึฐืจืึน:
It is foolish to trust in wealth. Hashem is the source of life and death and does not accept bribes. No matter how rich he is, a man cannot redeem his own brother โ ืึธื ืึนื ืคึธืึนื ืึดืคึฐืึถึผื ืึดืืฉื โ from death. And if he is too stingy to pay for his brotherโs life, what would he not give for his own life? But a man cannot give all his possessions as his ransom to G-d โ ืึนื ืึดืชึตึผื ืึตืืึนืงึดืื ืึธึผืคึฐืจืึน โ to release him from being punished for his sins.
(ื) ืึฐืึตืงึทืจ ืคึดึผืึฐืืึนื ื ึทืคึฐืฉึธืื
ืึฐืึธืึทื ืึฐืขืึนืึธื:
ืึฐืึธืึทื ืึฐืขืึนืึธื:
No matter how much wealth men may have, the redemption of their soul for money is unattainable โ ืึฐืึตืงึทืจ ืคึดึผืึฐืืึนื ื ึทืคึฐืฉึธืื . If they are doomed because of their sins, they die and the opportunity to repent is ended forever โ ืึฐืึธืึทื ืึฐืขืึนืึธื .
(ื) ืึดืืึดื ืขืึนื ืึธื ึถืฆึทื
ืึนื ืึดืจึฐืึถื ืึทืฉึธึผืืึทืช:
ืึนื ืึดืจึฐืึถื ืึทืฉึธึผืืึทืช:
What does the rich man think? That he will live forever โ ืึดืืึดื ืขืึนื ืึธื ึถืฆึทื , never to see the pit โ ืึนื ืึดืจึฐืึถื ืึทืฉึธึผืืึทืช โ where he will have to answer for his sins?
(ืื) ืึดึผื ืึดืจึฐืึถื ืึฒืึธืึดืื ืึธืืึผืชืึผ
ืึทืึทื ืึฐึผืกึดืื ืึธืึทืขึทืจ ืึนืืึตืืึผ
ืึฐืขึธืึฐืืึผ ืึทืึฒืึตืจึดืื ืึตืืึธื:
ืึทืึทื ืึฐึผืกึดืื ืึธืึทืขึทืจ ืึนืืึตืืึผ
ืึฐืขึธืึฐืืึผ ืึทืึฒืึตืจึดืื ืึตืืึธื:
When the rich man sees that even wise men die โ ืึดึผื ืึดืจึฐืึถื ืึฒืึธืึดืื ืึธืืึผืชืึผ , does he still think that he can cheat death? When he sees that the fool and the boor both perish โ ืึทืึทื ืึฐึผืกึดืื ืึธืึทืขึทืจ ืึนืืึตืืึผ โ and leave their hard-earned wealth to others โ ืึฐืขึธืึฐืืึผ ืึทืึฒืึตืจึดืื ืึตืืึธื , does he still think he will live forever? What about the world to come?
PART 3. THE GRAVE AWAITS.
(ืื) ืงึดืจึฐืึธึผื ืึธึผืชึตึผืืืึน ืึฐืขืึนืึธื
ืึดืฉึฐืืึฐึผื ึนืชึธื ืึฐืึนืจ ืึธืึนืจ
ืึดืฉึฐืืึฐึผื ึนืชึธื ืึฐืึนืจ ืึธืึนืจ
Such men are not concerned with a life beyond the present. Their innards โ ืงึดืจึฐืึธึผื โ yearn only for physical possessions and their houses โ ืึธึผืชึตึผืืืึน โ are their concept of eternity โ ืึฐืขืึนืึธื . They see their dwellings as lasting from generation to generation โ ืึดืฉึฐืืึฐึผื ึนืชึธื ืึฐืึนืจ ืึธืึนืจ .
ืงึธืจึฐืืึผ ืึดืฉึฐืืืึนืชึธื ืขึฒืึตื ืึฒืึธืืึนืช:
And so all their thoughts are on acquiring property which will perpetuate their fame to posterity. In their stupidity they have proclaimed their names on their land โ ืงึธืจึฐืืึผ ืึดืฉึฐืืืึนืชึธื ืขึฒืึตื ืึฒืึธืืึนืช , thinking that people will always remember them by the land holdings which they now possess.
(ืื) ืึฐืึธืึธื ืึดึผืืงึธืจ ืึทึผื ืึธืึดืื
ื ึดืึฐืฉึทืื ืึทึผืึฐึผืึตืืึนืช ื ึดืึฐืืึผ:
ื ึดืึฐืฉึทืื ืึทึผืึฐึผืึตืืึนืช ื ึดืึฐืืึผ:
But with his wealth and outward trappings of honor alone a man will not survive the night โ ืึฐืึธืึธื ืึดึผืืงึธืจ ืึทึผื ืึธืึดืื โ of the grave. Such a man is comparable to the animals โ ื ึดืึฐืฉึทืื ืึทึผืึฐึผืึตืืึนืช that have no soul and fall silent โ ื ึดืึฐืืึผ โ when they die, their body becoming absorbed into the surrounding elements.
(ืื) ืึถื ืึทืจึฐืึธึผื ืึตึผืกึถื ืึธืืึน
ืึฐืึทืึฒืจึตืืึถื ืึฐึผืคึดืืึถื ืึดืจึฐืฆืึผ ืกึถืึธื:
ืึฐืึทืึฒืจึตืืึถื ืึฐึผืคึดืืึถื ืึดืจึฐืฆืึผ ืกึถืึธื:
This way of theirs โ ืึถื ืึทืจึฐืึธึผื , trusting only in wealth and pursuing material pleasures, is their folly โ ืึตึผืกึถื ืึธืืึน . And yet their children who come after them โ ืึฐืึทืึฒืจึตืืึถื โ repeat the pattern, following the lessons from their parents mouths willingly โ ืึฐึผืคึดืืึถื ืึดืจึฐืฆืึผ , and so it goes on forever, Selah โ ืกึถืึธื !
(ืื) ืึทึผืฆึนึผืื ืึดืฉึฐืืืึนื ืฉึทืืชึผืึผ
ืึธืึถืช ืึดืจึฐืขึตื
ืึธืึถืช ืึดืจึฐืขึตื
They have set themselves โ ืฉึทืืชึผืึผ โ to be like sheep โ ืึทึผืฆึนึผืื โ that do nothing but eat and follow the unthinking flock. And so they are destined for the grave โ ืึดืฉึฐืืืึนื , both body and soul. Death will shepherd them there โ ืึธืึถืช ืึดืจึฐืขึตื โ and they will lose their strength.
ืึทืึดึผืจึฐืึผืึผ ืึธื ืึฐืฉึธืืจึดืื ืึทืึนึผืงึถืจ
In contrast to those doomed individuals, the upright who take a straight path through life will supersede them and inherit their wealth when the light of dawn โ ืึทืึดึผืจึฐืึผืึผ ืึธื ืึฐืฉึธืืจึดืื ืึทืึนึผืงึถืจ โ heralds a new day for mankind.
[ืืฆืืจื] ืึฐืฆืึผืจึธื ืึฐืึทืึผืึนืช ืฉึฐืืืึนื ืึดืึฐึผืึปื ืืึน:
But as for the upright, their strength โ ืึฐืฆืึผืจึธื โ is destined to outlast the grave โ ืึฐืึทืึผืึนืช ืฉึฐืืืึนื , rather than being its rotted remains โ ืึดืึฐึผืึปื ืืึน .
(ืื) ืึทืึฐ ืึฑืึนืงึดืื ืึดืคึฐืึถึผื ื ึทืคึฐืฉึดืื ืึดืึทึผื ืฉึฐืืืึนื
ืึดึผื ืึดืงึธึผืึตื ึดื ืกึถืึธื:
ืึดึผื ืึดืงึธึผืึตื ึดื ืกึถืึธื:
However โ ืึทืึฐ , I pray that my destiny will not be like that of the wicked. When I die and my body is interred in the grave, even though I have sinned, may G-d redeem my soul โ ืึฑืึนืงึดืื ืึดืคึฐืึถึผื ื ึทืคึฐืฉึดืื โ from the power of the grave โ ืึดืึทึผื ืฉึฐืืืึนื . For I have done teshuvah. May He take me to Him for eternal life in the World to Come, Selah โ ืึดึผื ืึดืงึธึผืึตื ึดื ืกึถืึธื !
PART 4. BEYOND THE GRAVE.
(ืื) ืึทื ืชึดึผืืจึธื ืึดึผื ืึทืขึฒืฉึดืืจ ืึดืืฉื
ืึดึผื ืึดืจึฐืึถึผื ืึฐึผืืึนื ืึตึผืืชืึน:
ืึดึผื ืึดืจึฐืึถึผื ืึฐึผืืึนื ืึตึผืืชืึน:
Donโt be troubled by envy when you see that a man grows rich โ ืึทื ืชึดึผืืจึธื ืึดึผื ืึทืขึฒืฉึดืืจ ืึดืืฉื , while you remain poor. When he increases the glory of his house โ ืึดึผื ืึดืจึฐืึถึผื ืึฐึผืืึนื ืึตึผืืชืึน , donโt think you have to abandon your way of life and devote yourself to matching his wealth. For your life will be as happy as his, and perhaps even more so.
(ืื) ืึดึผื ืึนื ืึฐืืึนืชืึน ืึดืงึทึผื ืึทืึนึผื
ืึนื ืึตืจึตื ืึทืึฒืจึธืื ืึฐึผืืึนืืึน:
ืึนื ืึตืจึตื ืึทืึฒืจึธืื ืึฐึผืืึนืืึน:
Such concerns are mistaken for upon his death he will not take anything with him โ ืึดึผื ืึนื ืึฐืืึนืชืึน ืึดืงึทึผื ืึทืึนึผื . His glory and all his possessions will not descend into the grave after him โ ืึนื ืึตืจึตื ืึทืึฒืจึธืื ืึฐึผืืึนืืึน .
(ืื) ืึดึผื ื ึทืคึฐืฉืืึน ืึฐึผืึทืึธึผืื ืึฐืึธืจึตืึฐ
ืึฐืืึนืึปืึธ ืึดึผื ืชึตืืึดืื ืึธืึฐ:
ืึฐืืึนืึปืึธ ืึดึผื ืชึตืืึดืื ืึธืึฐ:
Even though during his lifetime he blesses himself โ ืึดึผื ื ึทืคึฐืฉืืึน ืึฐึผืึทืึธึผืื ืึฐืึธืจึตืึฐ , saying, โThey will praise you because you have done well for yourself โ ืึฐืืึนืึปืึธ ืึดึผื ืชึตืืึดืื ืึธืึฐ ,โ that is only during his lifetime. They will quickly forget him after he is gone.
(ื) ืชึธึผืืึนื ืขึทื ืึผืึนืจ ืึฒืืึนืชึธืื
ืขึทื ื ึตืฆึทื ืึนื ืึดืจึฐืืึผ ืืึนืจ:
ืขึทื ื ึตืฆึทื ืึนื ืึดืจึฐืืึผ ืืึนืจ:
But if you come to study the generation of his fathers โ ืชึธึผืืึนื ืขึทื ืึผืึนืจ ืึฒืืึนืชึธืื , that is, the many individuals who have followed the same way of life as he does now you will find that, they have all passed on into a long night of death. They will see no light for all eternity โ ืขึทื ื ึตืฆึทื ืึนื ืึดืจึฐืืึผ ืืึนืจ . The same fate is in store also for their descendant who walks in the same paths and whose wealth and splendor you would covet.
(ืื) ืึธืึธื ืึดึผืืงึธืจ ืึฐืึนื ืึธืึดืื
ื ึดืึฐืฉึทืื ืึทึผืึฐึผืึตืืึนืช ื ึดืึฐืืึผ:
ื ึดืึฐืฉึทืื ืึทึผืึฐึผืึตืืึนืช ื ึดืึฐืืึผ:
Even with his wealth and honor if a man is stopped by the glitter of outward pretense and does not penetrate through to understand โ ืึธืึธื ืึดึผืืงึธืจ ืึฐืึนื ืึธืึดืื โ the meaning of life, he is comparable to the animals โ ื ึดืึฐืฉึทืื ืึทึผืึฐึผืึตืืึนืช that have no soul and fall silent โ ื ึดืึฐืืึผ โ when they die.
Living the Mizmor
Listed below are some of the lessons that you can draw from this mizmor, as well as some of the thoughts you might have in mind when you say the words of the mizmor as a tefillah, expressing your devotion to Hashem.
Lessons for Life – Your Attitude.
[49:2] TRANSITORY LIFE. โ ืึทืึฒืึดืื ืึผ ืึธึผื ืึนืฉึฐืืึตื ืึธืึถื โ โIncline your ear all who dwell in this transitory world.โ Remember that this world is transitory and whatever material things you build up here have no permanence.
[49:6] โ ืึธืึธึผื ืึดืืจึธื ืึดึผืืึตื ืจึธืข ืขึฒืึนื ืขึฒืงึตืึทื ืึฐืกืึผืึตึผื ึดื โ โWhy should I [devote myself to material wealth because I] fear bad times? The sin [following] on my heels will surround me.โ Your true protection is Hashem. The only thing you really have to fear is sin.
[49:21] โ ืึธืึธื ืึดึผืืงึธืจ ืึฐืึนื ืึธืึดืื ื ึดืึฐืฉึทืื ืึทึผืึฐึผืึตืืึนืช ื ึดืึฐืืึผ โ โEven with [wealth and] honor, [if] a man does not understand, he is comparable to the animals that fall silent.โ
Tefillos for Life – Your Teshuvah.
[49:9] TIME FOR TESHUVAH. โ ืึฐืึตืงึทืจ ืคึดึผืึฐืืึนื ื ึทืคึฐืฉึธืื ืึฐืึธืึทื ืึฐืขืึนืึธื โ โThe redemption of their soul [for money] is unattainable. [After death, repentance] is ended forever.โ Do teshuvah (repentance) for your sins now because you will not be able to do so after you die.
[49:16] BEYOND THE GRAVE. โ ืึทืึฐ ืึฑืึนืงึดืื ืึดืคึฐืึถึผื ื ึทืคึฐืฉึดืื ืึดืึทึผื ืฉึฐืืืึนื ืึดึผื ืึดืงึธึผืึตื ึดื ืกึถืึธื โ โBut, may G-d redeem my soul from the power of the grave. May He take me [to Him for eternal life], Selah!โ Ask that your teshuvah will be accepted and you will have life beyond the grave.
Sources
The primary sources used in the interpretation of the pesukim of this mizmor are listed below.
ื – ืืืืืจื, ืกืคืืจื ื, ืืื ืืืืื, ืจืฉืจ”ื
ื – ืืึพืจืืื, ืืฆืืืืช, ืืืื”ื, ืจืฉืจ”ื
ื – ืืื ืขืืจื, ืจื”ืง, ืืืื”ื
ื – ืจืฉ”ื, ืจื”ืง, ืืืื”ื, ืืืืืช ืชืืื ืืช, ืจืฉืจ”ื, ื ืจ ืืจืืื
ื – ืจืฉ”ื, ืจื”ืง, ืืืื”ื, ืืืืืช ืชืืื ืืช, ืจืฉืจ”ื, ื ืจ ืืจืืื
ื – ืจืฉ”ื, ืจื”ืง, ืืืืืจื, ืืฆืืืืช
ื – ืจืฉ”ื, ืืื ืขืืจื, ืืืืืจื, ืืฆืืืืช
ื – ืจื”ืง, ืืืืืจื, ืกืคืืจื ื, ืืืจ ืืืจืื
ื – ืืื ืขืืจื, ืกืคืืจื ื, ืืื ืืืืื, ืืฆืืืืช, ืืืื”ื
ื – ืืื ืืืืื, ื ืจ ืืจืืื
ื – ืืื ืขืืจื, ืืืืืจื, ืืืืจ ืืื
ืื – ืจืฉ”ื, ืจื”ืง
ืื – ืจืฉ”ื, ืกืคืืจื ื, ืืื ืืืืื, ืืฆืืืืช, ืืืจ ืืืจืื, ื ืจ ืืจืืื,
ืื – ืจืฉ”ื, ืืื ืขืืจื, ืจื”ืง, ืจืฉืจ”ื
ืื – ืืื ืขืืจื, ืจื”ืง, ืืึพืจืืื
ืื – ืจืฉ”ื, ืจื”ืง, ืืึพืจืืื, ืืฆืืืืช, ืจืฉืจ”ื, ื ืจ ืืจืืื, ืืืืจ ืืื
ืื – ืืื ืขืืจื, ืจื”ืง, ืกืคืืจื ื, ืืื ืืืืื
ืื – ืจื”ืง, ืืืืืจื, ืืฆืืืืช
ืื – ืืื ืขืืจื, ืจื”ืง
ืื – ืจืฉ”ื, ืืึพืจืืื, ืจืฉืจ”ื
ื – ืืึพืจืืื, ืืฆืืืืช, ืืืื”ื, ืืืืจ ืืื
ืื – ืืืืืจื, ืกืคืืจื ื, ื ืจ ืืจืืื, ืจืฉืจ”ื, ืืืืจ ืืื