Psalms 49:17

17 They can't take it with them; fame and fortune all get left behind.

Psalms 49:17 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 49:17

For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away
Such men, with all their riches and honour, must die; therefore why should men be afraid of them? or wherein are they to be accounted of, whose breath is in their nostrils? nor can they carry either of them with them; their riches will be of no profit to them after death, when they will be upon a level with the poor, who will have nothing to fear from them; see ( 1 Timothy 6:7 ) ;

his glory shall not descend after him;
either into the grave, the pit of corruption, the lower part of the earth, where kings, princes, counsellors, and peasants, are all alike, ( Job 3:14 Job 3:15 Job 3:19 ) ; or into hell, where are no titles of honour, nor respect of persons; no Pharaoh king of Egypt, or Sennacherib king of Assyria, there; but plain Pharaoh see ( Ezekiel 32:31 Ezekiel 32:32 ) .

Psalms 49:17 In-Context

15 But me? God snatches me from the clutch of death, he reaches down and grabs me.
16 So don't be impressed with those who get rich and pile up fame and fortune.
17 They can't take it with them; fame and fortune all get left behind.
18 Just when they think they've arrived and folks praise them because they've made good,
19 They enter the family burial plot where they'll never see sunshine again.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.