Psalms 49:6-9 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

They, &c. The psalmist, having said that good men had no sufficient cause of fear on account of what they might suffer from ungodly men, now proceeds to show that the ungodly had no reason to be secure because of their riches. That trust in their wealth As that which can secure them from calamities. None of them can redeem Either from the first or second death; his brother Whom he would do his utmost to preserve, nor consequently himself; nor give to God The only Lord of life, and the Judge who passes on him the sentence of death; a ransom for him Hebrew, כפרו, cophro, his expiation, or, the price of his redemption, namely, from death. For the redemption of their soul Of their life; is precious Costly, hard to be obtained. And it ceaseth for ever It is never to be accomplished by any mere man, for himself or for his brother. That he should live for ever That he should be excused from dying; and not see corruption Or, the pit, or the grave. These last four verses are well translated by Mudge, thus: “They that trust in their substance, and boast in the abundance of their riches; not one can, in truth, redeem his brother, nor give to God his ransom; (for the ransom of their life is of too high a value, and he is extinct for ever;) so that he should live on continually, and not see the pit.”