Psalms 49:10

49:10 Surely ¹  one sees ²  that even wise people die; ³ 

fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away ⁴ 

and leave their wealth to others. ⁵ 

Psalms 49:17

49:17 For he will take nothing with him when he dies;

his wealth will not follow him down into the grave. ⁶ 

[49:10]  ¹ tn The particle כִּי (ki) is understood here as asseverative (emphatic).

[49:10]  ² tn The subject of the verb is probably the typical “man” mentioned in v. 7. The imperfect can be taken here as generalizing or as indicating potential (“surely he/one can see”).

[49:10]  ³ tn The imperfect verbal forms here and in the next line draw attention to what is characteristically true. The vav (ו) consecutive with perfect in the third line carries the same force.

[49:10]  ⁴ tn Heb “together a fool and a brutish [man] perish.” The adjective בַּעַר (ba’ar, “brutish”) refers to spiritual insensitivity, not mere lack of intelligence or reasoning ability (see Pss 73:22; 92:6; Prov 12:1; 30:2, as well as the use of the related verb in Ps 94:8).

[49:10]  ⁵ sn Death shows no respect for anyone. No matter how wise or foolish an individual happens to be, all pass away.

[49:17]  ⁶ tn Heb “his glory will not go down after him.”