Psalms 49:13 Meaning and Explanation
“This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The wealthy's way is foolish, yet their descendants blindly inherit the same folly.
The Context of Psalms 49:13
Observation that the folly of wealth-trust perpetuates through generations.
What Does Psalms 49:13 Mean?
The psalmist names the wealthy's path explicitly as 'folly'—not morally neutral but fundamentally wrong because it places final trust in what cannot ultimately secure. Yet the verse adds a tragic dimension: their children 'approve their sayings'—they accept and perpetuate the same illusions, as if folly were wisdom.
The word 'Selah' invites the listener to pause and consider: folly spreads not just through the wealthy but through inheritance and example. Each generation learns to trust in wealth from those who came before, replicating the blindness without questioning it.
Psalms 49:13 in the Original Language
Selah marks a reflective pause in the psalm's argument.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 49:13
What does Psalms 49:13 mean?
The wealthy's way is foolish, yet their descendants blindly inherit the same folly.
What is the context of Psalms 49:13?
Observation that the folly of wealth-trust perpetuates through generations.