1<Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.> Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world. 2High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth. 3From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge. 4I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music. 5What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me? 6Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores. 7Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself; 8(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.) 9So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld. 10For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others. 11The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands. 12But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts. 13This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah.) 14Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever. 15But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.) 16Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased; 17For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. 18Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself, 19He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again. 20Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
A call for attention. (1-5) Folly of worldlings. (6-14) Against fear of death. (15-20) 1-5 We seldom meet with a more solemn introduction: there is no truth of greater importance. Let all hear this with application to ourselves. The poor are in danger from undue desire toward the wealth of the world, as rich people from undue delight in it. The psalmist begins with applying it to himself, and that is the right method in which to treat of Divine things. Before he sets down the folly of carnal security, he lays down, from his own experience, the benefit and comfort of a holy, gracious security, which they enjoy who trust in God, and not in their worldly wealth. In the day of judgment, the iniquity of our heels, or of our steps, our past sins, will compass us. In those days, worldly, wicked people will be afraid; but wherefore should a man fear death who has God with him? 6-14 Here is a description of the spirit and way of worldly people. A man may have wealth, and may have his heart enlarged in love, thankfulness, and obedience, and may do good with it. Therefore it is not men's having riches that proves them to be worldly, but their setting their hearts upon them as the best things. Worldly men have only some floating thoughts of the things of God, while their fixed thoughts, their inward thoughts, are about the world; that lies nearest the heart. But with all their wealth they cannot save the life of the dearest friend they have. This looks further, to the eternal redemption to be wrought out by the Messiah. The redemption of the soul shall cost very dear; but, being once wrought, it shall never need to be repeated. And he, the Redeemer, shall rise again before he sees corruption, and then shall live for evermore, #Re 1:18|. This likewise shows the folly of worldly people, who sell their souls for that which will never buy them. With all their wealth they cannot secure themselves from the stroke of death. Yet one generation after another applaud their maxims; and the character of a fool, as drawn by heavenly Wisdom itself, #Lu 12:16-21|, continues to be followed even among professed Christians. Death will ask the proud sinner, Where is thy wealth, thy pomp? And in the morning of the resurrection, when all that sleep in the dust shall awake, the upright shall be advanced to the highest honour, when the wicked shall be filled with everlasting shame and contempt, #Da 12:2|. Let us now judge of things as they will appear in that day. The beauty of holiness is that alone which the grave cannot touch, or damage. 15-20 Believers should not fear death. The distinction of men's outward conditions, how great soever in life, makes none at death; but the difference of men's spiritual states, though in this life it may seem of small account, yet at and after death is very great. The soul is often put for the life. The God of life, who was its Creator at first, can and will be its Redeemer at last. It includes the salvation of the soul from eternal ruin. Believers will be under strong temptation to envy the prosperity of sinners. Men will praise thee, and cry thee up, as having done well for thyself in raising an estate and family. But what will it avail to be approved of men, if God condemn us? Those that are rich in the graces and comforts of the Spirit, have something of which death cannot strip them, nay, which death will improve; but as for worldly possessions, as we brought nothing into the world, so it is certain that we shall carry nothing out; we must leave all to others. The sum of the whole matter is, that it can profit a man nothing to gain the whole world, to become possessed of all its wealth and all its power, if he lose his own soul, and is cast away for want of that holy and heavenly wisdom which distinguishes man from the brutes, in his life and at his death. And are there men who can prefer the lot of the rich sinner to that of poor Lazarus, in life and death, and to eternity? Assuredly there are. What need then we have of the teaching of the Holy Ghost; when, with all our boasted powers, we are prone to such folly in the most important of all concerns!