Psalms 49:12

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.

American Standard Version (1901)

But man being in honor abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish.

Bible in Basic English

But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.

Free Bible Version

But human beings, for all their fame, don't understand. They die, just like the animals.

Geneva Bible 1599

But man shall not continue in honour: he is like the beastes that die.

King James (Authorized) Version

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

One Unity Resource Bible

But man, despite his riches, does not endure. He is like the animals that perish.

Translation for Translators

Even if people are great, that cannot prevent them from dying; all people die, the same as animals do.

Unlocked Literal Bible

But man, having wealth, does not remain alive; he is like the beasts that perish.

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish.

Young's Literal Translation

And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.

Context

The Evanescence of Wealth

¹¹Their graves are their eternal homes— their dwellings for endless generations— even though their lands were their namesakes. ¹²But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.

Summary

This verse highlights the reality that wealth and riches cannot redeem a person's life or secure their eternity. It emphasizes the limitations of material possessions in the face of death, as everyone will eventually face the same fate regardless of their financial status. The psalmist urges the listener to not be intimidated by the wealthy, for their wealth cannot save them from the grave. Ultimately, the verse points to the importance of placing one's trust in God rather than in earthly treasures, as true redemption and eternal security come from Him alone.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Contrasted with this vanity is their frailty. However honored, man abideth not--literally, "lodgeth not," remains not till morning, but suddenly perishes as (wild) beasts, whose lives are taken without warning.

John Gill Bible Commentary

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 (y) 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 case of the first man; he was in honour he was created after the image and likeness of God, and so was the glory of God, being his image; he was in friendship with God, as many instances show, and had dominion over all the creatures below; he had much knowledge of God, and communion with him, and was a pure, holy, and upright creature; but he continued not long in this state of honour and glory; "he lodged not a night" (z), as the words may be rendered; see Gen 28:11; and as they are by some, who conclude from hence that Adam fell the same day in which he was created; and which is the sense of the above Jewish writers, who say, he was driven out of paradise the evening of that day; but though he might stand longer, and the word is sometimes used of a longer continuance; see Psa 25:13; yet by the account in Genesis it looks as if he continued in his state of honour but a short time; he is like the beasts that perish; becoming mortal in his body, and brutish and stupid in his understanding. Or, "he is like the beasts", "they perish", or "are cut off" (a); the word being in the plural number, which shows that not a single individual person is meant, but men in general; or, however, such of the sons of Adam that come to honour; these do not abide long in it, their honour is a very short lived one, sometimes it does not last their lives: they that are in high places are in slippery ones, and are often cast down from the pinnacle of honour in a moment; and if their glory does abide with them throughout the day of life, yet it shall not lodge with them in the night of the grave; thither their glory shall not descend after them, Psa 49:17; and when they die, they perish like the beasts; as they are like them in life, stupid, brutish, and ignorant, so in death; as the beast dies, so do they, Ecc 3:19; as the one dies without any thought of or preparation for death, so do the other; as the one carries nothing along with it, so neither do the other: as beasts that die of themselves, for such are here meant, as Junius well observes, are good for nothing but to be cast into the ditch; so are wicked men, notwithstanding all their riches and honours; yea, it is worse with them than with the beasts, since after death comes judgment, and after that the second death, the wrath of God. (y) Bereshit Rabba, s. 11. fol. 9. 1. 2. Pirke Eliezer, c. 19. (z) "non pernoctabit", Montanus, Amama; so Ainsworth. (a) "excisi sunt", Montanus.