Psalms 49:7-17

7 No one can ever buy back another person or pay God a ransom for his life.
8 The price to be paid for his soul is too costly. He must always give up
9 in order to live forever and never see the pit.
10 Indeed, one can see that wise people die, that foolish and stupid people meet the same end. They leave their riches to others.
11 Although they named their lands after themselves, their graves have become their homes for ages to come, their dwelling places throughout every generation.
12 But mortals will not continue here with what they treasure. They are like animals that die.
13 This is the final outcome for fools and their followers who are delighted by what they say: Selah
14 Like sheep, they are driven to hell with death as their shepherd. (Decent people will rule them in the morning.) Their forms will decay in the grave, far away from their comfortable homes.
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.

Psalms 49:7-17 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.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.