For when he dies 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.
- KJV For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
- BSB For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
- 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, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.
- Job 27:19He lies down rich, but he shall not do so again. He opens his eyes, and he is not.
- Eccl 5:15As he came out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.
- Job 1:21He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be Yahweh’s name.”
- Luke 16:24He 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 in anguish in this flame.’
- 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 has enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, their multitude, their pomp, and he who rejoices among them, descend into it.
- Isa 10:3What will you do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?
- Ps 17:14from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
- Luke 12:20“But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared — whose will they be?’
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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