“Do not be afraid
When one becomes rich!
Do not be afraid
When the wealth of their houses increases!
When they die,
They will carry nothing away.
Their wealth will not go down after them.
Even though in their lifetime,
They count themselves happy.
You are praised,
When you do well for yourself.
They will go to the company of their ancestors.
They will never again see the light.
Mortals cannot abide in their pomp.
They are like the animals that perish.”
This psalm ends with a warning about richness. You should never be afraid of the rich people. Even if someone’s wealth increases, they cannot take it with them. Their wealth stays here on earth while they go down to death. They can take nothing with them. Even if they had a happy life, they still have to live with their ancestors in eternal death where they will never see the light of day. No matter how pompous one was, they still die like animals. This is a repeat of what was said earlier. The message was clear. Do not be bothered by rich men since they are going to die anyway.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 