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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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 49:15-20

Good reason is here given to good people, I. Why they should not be afraid of death. There is no cause for that fear if they have such a comfortable prospect as David here has of a happy state on the other side death, Ps. 49:15. He had shown (Ps. 49:14) how miserable the dead are that die in their sins, where he shows how blessed the dead are that die in the Lord. The distinction of men's outward condition, how great a difference soever it makes in life, makes none at death; rich and poor meet... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:13

This their way is their folly ,.... This their last end becoming like the beasts that perish, which is the issue and event of all their confidence, ambition, and honour, shows the folly of their lives and conduct: or this their course of life, in trusting to their riches; boasting of their wealth; pleasing themselves with the thoughts of the continuance of their houses and dwelling places to all generations; and calling their lands after their own names; all proclaim their folly. Or, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:14

Like sheep they are laid in the grave ,.... They are not in life like sheep, harmless and innocent; nor reckoned as such for the slaughter, as the people of God are; unless it be that they are like them, brutish and stupid, thoughtless of death, and unconcerned about their estate after it; and so die and go into the grave, like natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, 2 Peter 2:12 ; or rather like sheep that have been grazing in good pasture in the daytime, at night are put... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 49:15

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave ,.... The psalmist expresses his faith, that though he should die, and for a while be under the power of the grave, yet he should be redeemed from it in the resurrection; which to the saints will be "the day of redemption", Ephesians 4:30 ; their bodies then will be redeemed from mortality, weakness, corruption, and dishonour, which attend them now, and in the grave; and which will, be in consequence of the redemption both of their... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:13

Their posterity approve their sayinys - Go the same way; adopt their maxims. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:14

Like sheep they are laid in the grave - לשאול lishol , into sheol, the place of separate spirits. Death shall feed on them ירעם מות maveth yirem , "Death shall feed them!" What an astonishing change! All the good things of life were once their portion, and they lived only to eat and drink; and now they live in sheol, and Death himself feeds them? and with what? Damnation. Houbigant reads the verse thus: "Like sheep they shall be laid in the place of the dead; death shall feed on... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:15

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave - שאול מיד miyad sheol , "from the hand of sheol." That is, by the plainest construction, I shall have a resurrection from the dead, and an entrance into his glory; and death shall have no dominion over me. read more

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