Les Psaumes 49:10 Midrash : Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition) & Midrash Tehillim

When Rabbi and R. Chiya who were once on the road came to a city, they asked: "Is there a scholar here? We would like to pay him a visit." They were told that there was a scholar there, but that he was blind. Said R. Chiya to Rabbi: "You, as a Nasi, remain here, so as not to lower your dignity, and I will go to see him." Rabbi, however, insisted and went with him. When they were departing, the blind man said to them: "You have come to see a countenance that can be seen, but cannot see; therefore [my wish is that] ye deserve to see that countenance which sees all, but cannot be seen." Rabbi then said [to R. Chiya]: "Had I listened to you, [not to visit him] I would not have received this blessing." They then asked the blind man: "From whom have you heard this?" [that to visit a scholar is so great a merit]. "I heard it at the lecture of R. Jacob of the village of Hitaya, who used to visit his master daily. When he became old, his master said to him: 'Do not take this trouble now, for you are too old to walk every day.' He answered: 'Do you hold the following passage in such light esteem? (Ps. 49, 10) Should he still live forever, and not see the pit? This means: Why should he not see the pit? Because he saw the wise men while dead. Now, if one who sees the wise while dead, lives forever, how much more so should he who comes to see them while alive.'"

"To the conductor, for the sons of Korah, on Alamoth. This is what is said in the verse (Job 9:10), 'He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed; miracles that cannot be counted.' No person can recount all the marvels of God. As it is also said (Psalm 136:4), 'To Him who alone does great wonders.' He alone knows the miracles and wonders that He does with His people. Thus said the sons of Korah on Alamoth: 'From eternity, these are the things we have seen, and we do not know what we have seen.' Another explanation of Alamoth: We have seen the two worlds, the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. We have seen those who trusted in their wealth, as it says (Psalm 49:7), 'Trusting in their wealth, the height of their success.' At that time, what can they do when their wealth fails them? As it also says (Zephaniah 1:18), 'Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them.' And a person should not say, 'My father is righteous, and through his merit, I will be saved.' Abraham did not save his son Ishmael, and Jacob did not save his brother Esau. As it says (Psalm 49:8), 'No man can redeem the life of another.' And what is 'brother'? The righteous say on that day, 'How difficult is the brother's redemption. No man can redeem the life of another.' And why is the ransom for their souls so precious? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, 'Did I not write to you (Exodus 23:8), 'You shall not take a bribe'? And did I not say to you, 'Give me a bribe, and I will accept it from you,' as it says (Proverbs 17:23), 'The wicked man takes a bribe in secret'? If you had given Me the bribe at that time, I would have accepted it from you. But now, I will not accept it from you, and you cannot make me accept it." As it is said (Deuteronomy 10:17), "He does not take bribes." And why (Psalms 49:8), "The redemption of their souls is costly." And what is (Psalms 37:28), "He ceases to exist forever"? One who ceases to exist on that day exists forever, as it says (Psalms 22:27), "May they live forever and not see decay." And where do they go? The sons of Korah said to Saul (1 Samuel 15:32), "Like sheep going down to the grave, where they will experience death." What is "experience death"? This teaches that the righteous descend every morning and are checked. The sons of Korah asked what the righteous are doing at that time. They said to them, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. In every distress that comes upon us, He is there for us." And so it says (Psalms 91:15), "He shall call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress." Flesh and blood do not know what to do until they reach their patron. But God is not like that, He helps in times of trouble.