Psalms 49:11-20

11 (48-12) And their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever. Their dwelling places to all generations: they have called their lands by their names.

12 (48-13) And man when he was in honour did not understand; he is compared to senseless beasts, and is become like to them.

13 (48-14) This way of theirs is a stumblingblock to them: and afterwards they shall delight in their mouth.

14 (48-15) They are laid in hell like sheep: death shall feed upon them. And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their help shall decay in hell from their glory.

15 (48-16) But God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, when he shall receive me.

16 (48-17) Be not thou afraid, when a man shall be made rick, and when the glory of his house shall be increased.

17 (48-18) For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; nor shall his glory descend with him.

18 (48-19) For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: and he will praise thee when thou shalt do well to him.

19 (48-20) He shall g in to the generations of his fathers: and he shall never see light.

20 (48-21) Man when he was in honour did not understand: he hath been compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them.

Psalms 49:11-20 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.