6 Those who trust in their wealth,
and boast in the multitude of their riches— 7 none of them can by any means redeem his brother,
nor give God a ransom for him. 8 For the redemption of their life is costly,
no payment is ever enough, 9 That he should live on forever,
that he should not see corruption. 10 For he sees that wise men die;
likewise the fool and the senseless perish,
and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever,
and their dwelling places to all generations.
They name their lands after themselves. 12 But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure.
He is like the animals that perish. 13 This is the destiny of those who are foolish,
and of those who approve their sayings. Selah. 14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol.
Death shall be their shepherd.
The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning.
Their beauty shall decay in Sheol,
far from their mansion.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 49:6-14
Commentary on Psalm 49:6-14
(Read Psalm 49:6-14)
Here is a description of the spirit and way of worldly people. A man may have wealth, and may have his heart enlarged in love, thankfulness, and obedience, and may do good with it. Therefore it is not men's having riches that proves them to be worldly, but their setting their hearts upon them as the best things. Worldly men have only some floating thoughts of the things of God, while their fixed thoughts, their inward thoughts, are about the world; that lies nearest the heart. But with all their wealth they cannot save the life of the dearest friend they have. This looks further, to the eternal redemption to be wrought out by the Messiah. The redemption of the soul shall cost very dear; but, being once wrought, it shall never need to be repeated. And he, the Redeemer, shall rise again before he sees corruption, and then shall live for evermore, Daniel 12:2. Let us now judge of things as they will appear in that day. The beauty of holiness is that alone which the grave cannot touch, or damage.