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Psalm 49:9-19

Listen to Psalm 49:9-19
9 so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.
10 For one can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless also pass away. Then they leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their eternal homes,[a] their homes from generation to generation, though they have named estates after themselves.
12 But despite [his] assets,[b] man will not last; he is like the animals that perish.
13 This is the way of those who are arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words.[c] Selah
14 Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.
15 But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol, for He will take me. Selah
16 Do not be afraid when a man gets rich, when the wealth[d] of his house increases.
17 For when he dies, he will take nothing at all; his wealth[e] will not follow him down.
18 Though he praises himself during his lifetime- and people praise you when you do well for yourself-
19 he will go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light.

Psalm 49:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Aben Ezra says this psalm is a very excellent one, since in it is explained the Light of the world to come, and of the rational and immortal soul; and Kimchi is of opinion that it respects both this world and that which is to come: and indeed it treats of the vanity of trusting in riches: of the insufficiency of them for the redemption of the soul; of the short continuance of worldly honour and substance; of the certainty of death, and of the resurrection of the dead. And the design of it is to expose the folly of trusting in uncertain riches, and to comfort the people of God under the want of them.
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Footnotes 5

  • [a] LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads Their inner thought is that their houses are eternal
  • [b] Or honor
  • [c] Lit and after them with their mouth they were pleased
  • [d] Or glory
  • [e] Or glory
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

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