What does Psalm 49:12 mean?

The psalmist is working through a "riddle" (Psalm 49:4) that causes much frustration. Though God condemns sin, some evil people become rich and successful (Psalm 49:5–6; 73:2–3). The answer to the riddle is that earthly life is short and impermanent—eventually, all wealth is left behind and we face judgment before our Creator (Hebrews 9:27). When that happens, those who pursued money instead of God will be doomed (Psalm 73:15–20; Revelation 20:11–15).

Just as money cannot buy salvation, adoration from other people is not enough to overcome the penalty of sin. Death puts an end to whatever honor a person achieves in life. Ultimately, all men die physically. While mankind was given a special creation by God (Genesis 1:27), our bodies will decay and rot just as the lowliest animal (Genesis 3:19). The breath of life leaves them, and their bodies decay. Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 3:19–20: "For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return."

Nevertheless, upon death, the believer's spirit leaves the body and goes to heaven to be with the Lord. Paul writes: "Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). On the other hand, when an unbeliever dies, his spirit is eternally separated from God (Matthew 25:41; Luke 16:22–23; Revelation 20:15).