Psalm 49:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: that he should live on forever and never see the pit.

NIV: so that they should live on forever and not see decay.

NASB: That he might live on eternally, That he might not undergo decay.

CSB: so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.

NLT: to live forever and never see the grave.

KJV: That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

NKJV: That he should continue to live eternally, And not see the Pit.

The psalmist is answering the "riddle" (Psalm 49:1–4) of why God allows some wicked people to become wealthy and successful (Psalm 49:5–6). The answer, in part, is that money cannot buy off God (Psalm 73:2–3, 15–20). Death comes for all people, and after that they face judgment before their Creator (Hebrews 9:27). All the money in the world cannot earn eternal life. The pit or grave, in this context, is the place where the body decomposes. Even those who live in luxury will experience corruption in the grave; yet for those who trust in Christ, there is hope beyond physical death (John 3:16–18). It is the hope of resurrection.

The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:54–55: "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?'" In verse 57 he gives God the glory for giving believers this victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus comes in the air to catch away all Christians, the bodies of departed Christians will be resurrected and transformed. Their bodies will reunite with their spirits that are in heaven. At the same times, the bodies of living Christians will be changed (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17). The body of every Christian will resemble the glorified body of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20–21).

Psalm 49:5–12 begins to describe and unravel the "riddle" previously mentioned. Though God warns about sin, wicked people may still prosper on earth. This can be discouraging to those who follow God but suffer at the hands of evil people. As the psalmist explains, ungodly people can only have a false sense of security. Wealth cannot buy pardon from sin. Ultimately, they will die and leave their wealth to others. The God-honoring person, however, has nothing to fear in eternity.

The "riddle" in question is the fact that some rich persons are also wicked and ungodly. Rich and poor, alike, should remember that money is temporary. It is not a substitute for God's approval. All people face death and God's judgment. There is no reason to envy a person who has earthly wealth but lacks eternal hope.

As did Psalm 73, this passage tackles the riddle of how to respond to prosperity among those who reject God. Just as did Asaph (Psalm 73:15–19), the psalmist concludes that the prosperous wicked face a hopeless end. The righteous have an endless hope. This psalm is rightfully regarded as a wisdom psalm. Several themes, such as the temporary nature of wealth, are echoed in the book of Proverbs.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.