Psalms 49:16

RECAPITULATION OF THE FIRST PORTION

"Be not thou afraid when one is made rich,

When the glory of his house is increased:

For when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away;

His glory shall not descend after him.

Though while he lived he blessed his soul

(And men praise thee when thou doest well to thyself),

He shall go to the generation of his fathers;

They shall never see the light.

Man that is in honor, and understandeth not,

Is like the beasts that perish."

The futility of trusting in riches continues to be the theme here. Psalms 49:17 reminds us of what the apostle Paul said, "We brought nothing into this world, and neither can we carry anything out" (1 Timothy 6:7). The proverb, "You can't take it with you," is not nullified by Bob Hope's wisecrack, that, "If I can't take it with me, I ain't goin'." All men need to be reminded that a hearse never has a U-haul trailer! Also, for the curious question which reporters always ask the survivors, namely, `How much did he leave'? the monotonous answer is always the same, `He left everything; he left it all.'

"His glory shall not descend after him" (Psalms 49:17). "The `glory' here is contrasted with the `darkness' there (Psalms 49:19)."[24]

McCaw also commented on the change in the RSV, which omits the words, `and understandeth not,' "If for all his dignity man does not understand the eternal issues of life, and death, and salvation, then, indeed, what is his dignity worth?"[25]

However, Rawlinson saw the words omitted in RSV as, "An important qualification in the refrain. All men die; but only those who are `without understanding' die, like the beasts without hope."[26] Men of understanding are entitled to the hope of Psalms 49:15, provided, of course, that they are willing to receive it upon the conditions laid down in the New Testament by the Christ.

We think Jones' prayer is an appropriate conclusion for this wonderful psalm.

My rich brother, trust not in uncertain riches; use thy wealth wisely that it may bless both thee and others. My poor brother neither envy nor fear the power of wealthy worldlings; but rejoice in thine own inalienable and blessed portion.[27]