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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 49:6-14

In these verses we have, I. A description of the spirit and way of worldly people, whose portion is in this life, Ps. 17:14. It is taken for granted that they have wealth, and a multitude of riches (Ps. 49:6), houses and lands of inheritance, which they call their own, Ps. 49:11. God often gives abundance of the good things of this world to bad men who live in contempt of him and rebellion against him, by which it appears that they are not the best things in themselves (for then God would give... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:12

Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not ,.... Or Adam: and some understand this of the first man Adam, who was created and crowned with glory and honour; but it did not abide with him, nor he in that: so some Jewish writers F25 Bereshit Rabba, s. 11. fol. 9. 1. 2. Pirke Eliezer, c. 19. interpret it. But whether the words will admit of this sense or not, the general view of the psalmist, which is to show the inconstancy and instability of worldly honour, may be exemplified in the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:12

Man being in honor abideth not - However rich, wise, or honorable, they must die; and if they die not with a sure hope of eternal life, they die like beasts. See on Psalm 49:20 ; (note). read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:12

Verse 12 12And man shall not abide in honor Having exposed the vain and delusory nature of the fancies entertained by the ungodly, he next shows that however fondly they may cherish them, they must experience the same fate with the beasts of the field. It is true that there is a great difference, so far as the soul is concerned, between man and the brute creation; but the Psalmist speaks of things as they appear in this world, and in this respect he was warranted to say of the ungodly that they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 49:1-20

Metrically, the composition divides itself into three portions: read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 49:1-20

A dark saying: wealth in bad hands. The author and the date of this psalm are alike unknown. There are, however, matters concerning it of much more importance, which we do know. One of these is that the writer was a believer in God; and that while the dark problems of life perplexed him, as they do and have done so many others, he saw light above and beyond them. Another is that in this psalm we have the words of one who had "inclined his ear" to hear what the great Speaker would say unto... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 49:1-20

A contrast: unseen wealth. To those whose character and outlook are depicted in the bulk of this psalm its writer did not belong. He looks on them; he writes of them; but he is not one with them. The emphatic and striking word "but" ( Psalms 49:15 ) indicates what the context shows, that there is a great gulf between him and them. While the wicked ones who are rolling in wealth despise him because of his distance from them on the ground of earthly poverty, he, on the other hand, looks... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 49:1-20

Be not afraid. I. THE PREACHER , ( Psalms 49:3 , Psalms 49:4 .) He is marked by thoughtfulness. He lends his ear in many a secret place to learn wisdom. His inspiration is from above, and he does not speak of himself, but as moved by Divine impulses. What he has gathered by long meditation and experience he gives forth freely for the good of others. His ambition is to make the dark clear, to discern between good and evil, to strip falsehood of its disguises, and to set forth the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 49:1-20

The issues of life. Connected with Psalms 16:1-11 ; Psalms 17:1-15 ; the writer stands face to face with the great problem of the time—the prosperity of the wicked. The two chief causes which forced the conviction of a hereafter on the later Hebrews were a deep dissatisfaction at the prosperity of the wicked and the misfortunes of the righteous in the world; and the earnest longing of the soul for a more perfect communion with God than was possible in the present life; for they could... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 49:5-15

The prelude, or introduction, being over, the substance of the "dark saying" is now brought forth. The problem is propounded. On the one hand are the righteous, fallen upon evil days, surrounded by treacherous foes, ever on the watch to do them a mischief ( Psalms 49:5 ); on the other are the wicked, "trusting in their wealth, and boasting themselves in the multitude of their riches" ( Psalms 49:6 ), so opulent that they build houses which they expect to "continue for ever" and proprietors... read more

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