Psalm 49:1
49:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
     Hear {a} this, all [ye] people; give ear, all [ye]
     inhabitants of the world:

     (a) He will intreat how God governs the world by his
         providence which cannot be perceived by the judgment of
         the flesh.

Psalm 49:5
49:5 Wherefore should I {b} fear in the days of evil, [when] the
     iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

     (b) Though wickedness reigns and enemies rage, seeing God
         will execute his judgments against the wicked at a
         suitable time.

Psalm 49:6
49:6 They that trust in their {c} wealth, and boast themselves
     in the multitude of their riches;

     (c) To trust in riches is madness, seeing they can neither
         restore life, nor prolong it.

Psalm 49:8
49:8 (For the redemption of their soul [is] {d} precious, {e}
     and it ceaseth for ever:)

     (d) That is, so rare or not to be found, as prophecy was
         precious in the days of Eli, 1 Samuel 3:1.
     (e) Meaning it is impossible to live for ever: also that
         life and death are only in God's hands.

Psalm 49:10
49:10 For he seeth [that] wise men {f} die, likewise the fool
      and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to
      {g} others.

      (f) In that that death makes no difference between the
          persons.
      (g) That is, not to their children, but to strangers. Yet
          the wicked profit not by these examples, but still
          dream of immortality on earth.

Psalm 49:12
49:12 Nevertheless man [being] in honour abideth not: he is like
      the {h} beasts [that] perish.

      (h) Concerning the death of the body.

Psalm 49:13
49:13 This their way [is] their folly: yet their posterity {i}
      approve their sayings. Selah.

      (i) They speak and do the same thing that their fathers
          did.

Psalm 49:14
49:14 {k} Like sheep they are laid in the grave; {l} death shall
      feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over
      them in the {m} morning; and their beauty shall consume in
      the grave from their dwelling.

      (k) As sheep are gathered into the fold, so shall they be
          brought to the grave.
      (l) Because they have no part of life everlasting.
      (m) Christ's coming is as the morning, when the elect will
          reign with Christ their head over the wicked.

Psalm 49:18
49:18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and {n} [men]
      will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

      (n) The flatterers praise them who live in delight and
          pleasures.

Psalm 49:19
49:19 {o} He shall go to the generation of his fathers; {p} they
      shall never see light.

      (o) And not pass the term appointed for life.
      (p) Both they and their fathers will live here but a while
          and at length die forever.

Psalm 49:20
49:20 Man [that is] in honour, and {q} understandeth not, is
      like the beasts [that] perish.

      (q) He condemns man's ingratitude, who having received
          excellent gifts from God, abuses them like a beast to
          his own condemnation.