Psalm 49:9
New International Version
so that they should live on forever and not see decay.

New Living Translation
to live forever and never see the grave.

English Standard Version
that he should live on forever and never see the pit.

Berean Standard Bible
that he should live on forever and not see decay.

King James Bible
That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

New King James Version
That he should continue to live eternally, And not see the Pit.

New American Standard Bible
That he might live on eternally, That he might not undergo decay.

NASB 1995
That he should live on eternally, That he should not undergo decay.

NASB 1977
That he should live on eternally; That he should not undergo decay.

Legacy Standard Bible
That he should live on eternally, That he should not see corruption.

Amplified Bible
So that he should live on eternally, That he should never see the pit (grave) and undergo decay.

Christian Standard Bible
so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.

American Standard Version
That he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption.

Contemporary English Version
to stay alive forever and safe from death.

English Revised Version
That he should still live alway, that he should not see corruption.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
in order to live forever and never see the pit.

Good News Translation
to keep us from the grave, to let us live forever.

International Standard Version
that he should go on living and not see corruption.

Majority Standard Bible
that he should live on forever and not see decay.

NET Bible
so that he might continue to live forever and not experience death.

New Heart English Bible
that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.

Webster's Bible Translation
That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

World English Bible
that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And still he lives forever, "" He does not see the pit.

Young's Literal Translation
And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he shall yet live forever, he shall not see destruction.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
and shall still live unto the end.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and he will still live, until the end.

New American Bible
Will he live on forever, then, and never see the Pit of Corruption?

New Revised Standard Version
that one should live on forever and never see the grave.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Do good for ever and you shall live for ever, and not see corruption.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
That you shall live for the eternity of eternities and you shall not see destruction.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
That he should still live alway, That he should not see the pit.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and live to the end, so that he should not see corruption.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Evanescence of Wealth
8For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice, 9that he should live on forever and not see decay. 10For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.…

Cross References
Ecclesiastes 3:19-20
For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile. / All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.

Ecclesiastes 9:5-6
For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten. / Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun.

Job 14:14
When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.

Job 21:26
But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.

Job 30:23
Yes, I know that You will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.

Psalm 89:48
What man can live and never see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

Psalm 39:5-6
You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah / Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

Psalm 146:4
When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground; on that very day his plans perish.

Isaiah 38:18
For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.

Ezekiel 18:4
Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

Matthew 16:26
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Luke 12:20
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

Luke 16:22-23
One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried. / In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. / And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Treasury of Scripture

That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

That he

Psalm 89:48
What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

Proverbs 10:2
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Proverbs 11:4
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

see

Psalm 16:10
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

John 8:51,52
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death…

Acts 2:27,31
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption…

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Psalm 49
1. An earnest persuasion to build the faith of resurrection
16. Worldly prosperity is not to be admired














that he should live on forever
This phrase speaks to the innate human desire for immortality and the fear of death. In the Hebrew text, the word for "live" is "חָיָה" (chayah), which means to live, to have life, or to remain alive. This reflects the deep-seated yearning within humanity to transcend mortality. Historically, many cultures have sought ways to achieve eternal life, whether through myth, legend, or religious belief. In the biblical context, true eternal life is a gift from God, not something that can be achieved through human means or wealth. This aligns with the Christian understanding that eternal life is granted through faith in Jesus Christ, as emphasized in the New Testament.

and not see decay
The phrase "see decay" uses the Hebrew word "שָׁחַת" (shachat), which can mean pit, destruction, or corruption. This word often refers to the grave or the process of physical decay after death. The psalmist here is highlighting the futility of human efforts to avoid the inevitable decay that comes with death. In a broader scriptural context, this points to the hope of resurrection and the Christian belief in the victory over death through Christ. The New Testament echoes this sentiment, particularly in 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, where Paul speaks of death being swallowed up in victory. This assurance provides comfort and hope to believers, affirming that through Christ, they will not ultimately see decay but will be raised to eternal life.

(9) That--i.e., in order that; introducing the purpose of the imagined ransom in Psalm 49:7. Others connect it consecutively with Psalm 49:8, "He must give up for ever the hope of living for ever."

Verse 9. - That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. This verse is to be closely connected with ver. 7, ver. 8 being parenthetical It describes the effect which the payment of a ransom by the rich, were it possible, might be expected to have.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
that he should live on
וִֽיחִי־ (wî·ḥî-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

forever
לָנֶ֑צַח (lā·ne·ṣaḥ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5331: Eminence, enduring, everlastingness, perpetuity

and not
לֹ֖א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

see
יִרְאֶ֣ה (yir·’eh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

decay.
הַשָּֽׁחַת׃ (haš·šā·ḥaṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7845: A pit, destruction


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OT Poetry: Psalm 49:9 That he should live on forever that (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 49:8
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