Single lesson
Psalm 49: The Evanescence of Wealth
Psalms 49:1–20
Psalm 49 is a wisdom song for everyone, not only for rich people. In this lesson, children hear the psalm’s pictures, follow its movement, and explain what it says about wealth, death and trust in God.
Before you teach
The psalm begins by calling all peoples, both rich and poor, to listen. The speaker says he will speak wisdom and explain a riddle. He asks why he should fear wealthy people, then shows what riches cannot do and ends with a warning about riches without understanding.
Students will be able to name the speaker’s main images and explain that this psalm says wealth cannot save a life, so people should not fear human riches.
Welcome: Who is this psalm speaking to?
5 minBegin by asking the group who the psalm invites to listen. Read verses 1 to 4 aloud. Help children notice that the speaker addresses all peoples, low and high, rich and poor. Explain that a proverb is a wise saying, and a riddle is something needing thought. This prepares us to listen carefully for wisdom.
Psalms 49:1, Psalms 49:2, Psalms 49:3, Psalms 49:4
Read and explain: What can wealth not do?
7 minRead verses 5 to 9, then 10 to 12. Point out the question in verse 5 and the answer that follows. People may trust in wealth, yet no person can pay God enough to redeem a life so someone lives forever. Even wise, foolish and senseless people die, and their wealth goes to others.
Psalms 49:5, Psalms 49:6, Psalms 49:7, Psalms 49:8, Psalms 49:9, Psalms 49:10, Psalms 49:11, Psalms 49:12
Discuss: Which pictures carry the message?
6 minTalk through the psalm’s strong images. Rich people may think their houses will endure and even name lands after themselves, yet people do not endure. The psalm compares people without understanding to animals that perish. It also says death is like a shepherd for those headed to Sheol. Ask what each picture adds to the warning.
Psalms 49:11, Psalms 49:12, Psalms 49:13, Psalms 49:14, Psalms 49:20
Make and respond: Image and truth card
8 minChildren make a small card with two sides. On one side, draw one image from the psalm such as animals that perish, empty hands at death, or a listening ear. On the other side, write a short sentence from the lesson, such as ‘Wealth cannot save a life’ or ‘God will redeem my soul’. As they work, read verses 15 to 17 again.
Psalms 49:15, Psalms 49:16, Psalms 49:17
Closing: What should we not fear?
4 minFinish with verses 16 to 20. Explain that the psalm tells listeners not to be afraid when someone becomes rich, because riches do not go with a person after death. The ending repeats the lesson: riches without understanding are like animals that perish. Invite each child to say one thing this psalm wants listeners to understand.
Psalms 49:16, Psalms 49:17, Psalms 49:18, Psalms 49:19, Psalms 49:20
Questions to explore
Why does the psalm begin by calling both rich and poor to listen?
Use the opening lines to show that this wisdom message is for all people, not one group only.
Psalms 49:1, Psalms 49:2, Psalms 49:3
According to the psalm, why can’t wealth rescue someone from death?
Look for the verses that say no one can redeem a brother or pay God enough for life to continue forever.
Psalms 49:7, Psalms 49:8, Psalms 49:9
What difference do you hear between the fate of the wealthy in general and the speaker’s hope?
Compare the warning about death and decay with the speaker’s words, ‘But God will redeem my soul’.
Psalms 49:14, Psalms 49:15, Psalms 49:17, Psalms 49:20
Make, think or respond
Psalm 49 Image and Truth Card
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or crayons
- markers
Try it together
- Fold or divide a piece of paper into two sides.
- On one side, draw one picture from Psalm 49, such as empty hands, animals that perish, or a listening ear.
- On the other side, write a short sentence from the psalm’s message, such as ‘Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich’ or ‘God will redeem my soul’.
- Invite each child to show the picture and explain which verse helped them choose it.
This activity helps children notice how Psalm 49 teaches with images and how those images support its message about wealth, death and trust in God.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer three picture choices to draw and help them copy a short phrase from one verse.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to choose two images from different parts of the psalm and explain how the second image develops the first.
An optional closing prayer
You might pray: ‘God, help us listen to your wisdom. Teach us not to trust in riches and not to fear human wealth. Help us understand your word and trust you. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 49
1 Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart will utter understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle on the harp.
5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
6 Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—
7 none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.
8 For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.
10 For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
12 But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish.
13 This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. Selah.
14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah.
16 Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17 for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
20 A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.