Psalm 49:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.

NIV: People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.

NASB: But man in his splendor will not endure; He is like the animals that perish.

CSB: But despite his assets, mankind will not last; he is like the animals that perish.

NLT: but their fame will not last. They will die, just like animals.

KJV: Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

NKJV: Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts that perish.

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).

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.