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Psalm 49:13-15
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 49:13-15
New Catholic Bible
13 Despite his riches,
a man cannot escape death;
he is like the beasts that perish.[a]
14 Such is the destiny of those who trust in themselves alone,
the fate of those who are pleased with their lot.[b] Selah
15 Like sheep[c] they are destined for the netherworld,
with death as their shepherd.
They descend straight to the grave
where their bodies will waste away;
the netherworld will be their home.
Footnotes
- Psalm 49:13 The psalmist states that death is an inevitable part of earthly existence. He says nothing about life beyond death or the difference between human and animal life.
- Psalm 49:14 The psalmist does not condemn riches in themselves but only the attitude of self-sufficiency so often associated with wealth, which then leads to insensitivity, scheming, deception, and arrogance (see Jas 5:1-6) in both the rich and their followers.
- Psalm 49:15 Like sheep: death has become their shepherd, leading them to the grave. They descend . . . waste away: an alternative text is: “The upright will rule over them in the morning, / and their bodies will waste away.” In the morning: the customary time for eschatological judgments and the triumph of the righteous (see Pss 17:15; 46:5; 101:8; Song 2:17; Isa 17:14).
