Psalm 49:2
New International Version
both low and high, rich and poor alike:

New Living Translation
High and low, rich and poor—listen!

English Standard Version
both low and high, rich and poor together!

Berean Standard Bible
both low and high, rich and poor alike.

King James Bible
Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

New King James Version
Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

New American Standard Bible
Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

NASB 1995
Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

NASB 1977
Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

Legacy Standard Bible
Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

Amplified Bible
Both low and high, Rich and poor together:

Christian Standard Bible
both low and high, rich and poor together.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
both low and high, rich and poor together.

American Standard Version
Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

Contemporary English Version
Listen, no matter who you are, rich or poor.

English Revised Version
Both low and high, rich and poor together.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
common people and important ones, rich people and poor ones.

Good News Translation
great and small alike, rich and poor together.

International Standard Version
both average people and those of means, the rich and the poor together.

Majority Standard Bible
both low and high, rich and poor alike.

NET Bible
Pay attention, all you people, both rich and poor!

New Heart English Bible
both low and high, rich and poor together.

Webster's Bible Translation
Both low and high, rich and poor together.

World English Bible
both low and high, rich and poor together.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Both low and high, together rich and needy.

Young's Literal Translation
Both low and high, together rich and needy.

Smith's Literal Translation
Also ye sons of Adam, also ye sons of man together, ye rich and needy.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: both rich and poor together.

Catholic Public Domain Version
whoever is earth-born, you sons of men, together as one, the rich and the poor.

New American Bible
You of lowly birth or high estate, rich and poor together.

New Revised Standard Version
both low and high, rich and poor together.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Children of earth and sons of men, rich and poor together.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Children of Earth and the children of men together, the rich and the poor,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
both the sons of mean men, and sons of great men; the rich and poor man together.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Evanescence of Wealth
1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world, 2both low and high, rich and poor alike. 3My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.…

Cross References
Proverbs 1:20-23
Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; / in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech: / “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge? ...

Proverbs 8:1-4
Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice? / On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand. / Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out: ...

Isaiah 55:1-3
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! / Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods. / Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. / But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

Job 34:2-4
“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning. / For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food. / Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

Ecclesiastes 12:9-10
Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. / The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.

Proverbs 9:1-6
Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars. / She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. / She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city. ...

Isaiah 1:18-20
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool. / If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. / But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Proverbs 2:1-6
My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you, / if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding, / if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, ...

Isaiah 28:23-29
Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I say. / Does the plowman plow for planting every day? Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil? / When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? He plants wheat in rows and barley in plots, and rye within its border. ...

Matthew 11:15
He who has ears, let him hear.

Mark 4:23-24
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” / He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you.

Luke 8:8
Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprang up and produced a crop—a hundredfold.” As Jesus said this, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Matthew 13:9-16
He who has ears, let him hear.” / Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?” / He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. ...

Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

Psalm 62:9
Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

1 Samuel 2:7,8
The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up…

Job 34:19
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

Jump to Previous
Alike Degree High Low Needy Poor Rich Together Wealth
Jump to Next
Alike Degree High Low Needy Poor Rich Together Wealth
Psalm 49
1. An earnest persuasion to build the faith of resurrection
16. Worldly prosperity is not to be admired














both low and high
This phrase in Psalm 49:2 from the Berean Standard Bible emphasizes the universal nature of the message being conveyed. The Hebrew words used here are "בְּנֵי אָדָם" (bene adam) for "low" and "בְּנֵי אִישׁ" (bene ish) for "high." "Bene adam" refers to the common man, the ordinary people, while "bene ish" refers to those of higher status or nobility. This distinction underscores the inclusivity of the psalm's wisdom, indicating that the truths being shared are relevant to all people, regardless of social status or wealth. Historically, this reflects the biblical theme that God's wisdom and truth are accessible to everyone, not just a select few. In a conservative Christian perspective, this can be seen as a call to humility and unity, reminding believers that in God's eyes, all are equal and in need of His guidance.

rich and poor alike
The phrase "rich and poor alike" further reinforces the message of universality. The Hebrew words "עָשִׁיר" (ashir) for "rich" and "רָשׁ" (rash) for "poor" highlight the economic spectrum of society. This part of the verse serves as a reminder that material wealth does not determine one's value or access to divine wisdom. In the historical context of ancient Israel, where social and economic divisions were pronounced, this message would have been particularly poignant. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, this phrase encourages believers to look beyond earthly wealth and status, focusing instead on spiritual richness and equality before God. It serves as a reminder that God's truth and salvation are offered to all, regardless of their financial situation, and that true wealth is found in a relationship with Him.

(2) Both high and low.--The two Hebrew expressions here used, bene-adam and bene-ish, answer to one another much as homo and vir in Latin. The LXX. and Vulg., taking adam in its primary sense, render "sons of the soil and sons of men." Symmachus makes the expressions stand for men in general and men as individuals.

Shall be of understanding.--The copula supplied by the Authorised Version is unnecessary. The word rendered meditation may mean, from its etymology, "muttered thoughts," and it is quite consistent to say, my musings speak of understanding. So LXX. and Vulgate.

Verse 2. - Both high and low, rich and poor, together. The teaching of the psalm concerns all ranks alike. To the great and rich it will carry warning; to the poor and lowly, consolation.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
both
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

low and high,
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

rich
עָשִׁ֥יר (‘ā·šîr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6223: Rich

and poor
וְאֶבְיֽוֹן׃ (wə·’eḇ·yō·wn)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 34: In want, needy, poor

alike.
יַ֝֗חַד (ya·ḥaḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3162: A unit, unitedly


Links
Psalm 49:2 NIV
Psalm 49:2 NLT
Psalm 49:2 ESV
Psalm 49:2 NASB
Psalm 49:2 KJV

Psalm 49:2 BibleApps.com
Psalm 49:2 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 49:2 Chinese Bible
Psalm 49:2 French Bible
Psalm 49:2 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 49:2 Both low and high rich and poor (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 49:1
Top of Page
Top of Page