Psalms 49:12

(12) Abideth not.—This verse gives the kernel and the thought of, as it also serves as a refrain to, the poem, thus vindicating the claim of a lyric tone for this didactic psalm. The reading of the LXX. and Vulg. (“without understanding” instead of “abideth not”), which brings Psalms 49:12 into exact correspondence with Psalms 49:20, is unquestionably to be adopted. The present text could not really express permanence, the Hebrew verb meaning to lodge temporarily.

The next verse, too, is hardly intelligible, unless we read here—

“Man, though in honour, without understanding,Is like the beasts; they perish.”