For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
Parallel translations
- WEB for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.
- KJV For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
- NKJV For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.
- NASB For when he dies, he will take nothing with him; His wealth will not descend after him.
- NLT For when they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When the rich die they take nothing with them; their wealth and glory do not follow them into death. Earthly gain ends at the grave.
Overview
The reason not to fear the prosperous wicked is that death strips them of everything. Their accumulated 'glory' will not descend with them. Paul echoes this: 'we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it' (1 Timothy 6:7), redirecting hope to treasure in heaven.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Tim 6:7For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.
- Job 27:19He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, all is gone.
- Eccl 5:15As a man came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he arrived. He takes nothing for his labor to carry in his hands.
- Job 1:21saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
- Luke 16:24So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’
- 1 Cor 15:43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
- Isa 5:14Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s nobles and masses, her revelers and carousers!
- Isa 10:3What will you do on the day of reckoning when devastation comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?
- Ps 17:14from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.
- Luke 12:20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 49:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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