Psalms 49

Psalms 49:5

Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

Why should I fear upon any occasion whatsoever? whether it be upon the conscience of the iniquity of my own footsteps; or, whether upon the prosecution of those enemies, which follow me at the heels, and are ready to environ me? XLIX. 7, 8. None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him; For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever. It is not in the power of the wealthy and great men of the world, to ransom another man from death, by all their riches and treasures; for the life of man is of greater price and value, than can be countervailed by any earthly thing; and therefore this redemption is a thing not to be effected, or hoped for at all.

Psalms 49:14

And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

But, however they flourish and sway here, yet, after the long night of the grave is past, in the morning of the resurrection, the just and righteous servants of God, whom they have here trampled upon, shall so have dominion over them, that they shall sit as their judges: in the mean time, all their glory and bravery shall be consumed and rot away in the dust of their grave.

Psalms 49:20

Man that is in honour and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

That man, who lives in outward honour, and yet wants true wisdom and understanding, to know God and himself, lives as a beast, and dies as a beast, brutishly.