For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
Parallel translations
- WEB for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.
- BSB For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
- 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 this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
- Job 27:19The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.
- Eccl 5:15As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
- Job 1:21And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
- Luke 16:24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
- 1 Cor 15:43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
- Isa 5:14Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
- Isa 10:3And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
- Ps 17:14From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
- Luke 12:20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
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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