Psalms 49:9-19

9 That he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption.

10 For he shall see it. Wise men die; The fool and the brutish alike perish, And leave their wealth to others.

11 Their inward thought is, [that] their houses [shall continue] for ever, [And] their dwelling-places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names.

12 But man [being] in honor abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish.

13 This their way is their folly: Yet after them men approve their sayings. [Selah

14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, That there be no habitation for it.

15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; For he will receive me. [Selah

16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased.

17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.

18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul (And men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself,)

19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see the light.

Psalms 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.