Psalms 49:17

17 He will not take anything with him when he dies. His greatness cannot follow him.

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 God will buy me back from the power of hell because he will take me. Selah
16 Do not be afraid when someone becomes rich, when the greatness of his house increases.
17 He will not take anything with him when he dies. His greatness cannot follow him.
18 Even though he blesses himself while he is alive (and they praise you when you do well for yourself),
19 he must join the generation of his ancestors, who will never see light [again].
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