Psalm 49 [MT 50]

He who is assembling and summoning all by the proclamation is the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, who brings together through prophets and apostles those who are saved.… The sharing of the summons is a uniting in peace, so that those who were, up to this time, opposed to each other because of customs might, through gathering together, become habituated to each other in love.

Homilies on the Psalms 19:1 (ps 49)

In the very beginning of this psalm we hear the voice of the Lord of salvation inviting the Gentiles into his church. He calls on them to renounce error, to follow truth, to fulfill the duties of love and adoration. The hearts of these people were infected by the Serpent’s venom, passed down from generation to generation, and their inclination was toward sin. So long as they despair of pardon, they cannot be called back. But the Lord promises a remedy, and out of the greatness and kindness of his heart he freely assures them of forgiveness.… All, without exception, are invited to grace. Without having to pay any ransom money they are redeemed from sin, and they grasp the fruit of eternal life.

Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms, On Psalm 49

..."Hear ye these things, all you nations" [Psalm 49:1]. Not then you only who are here. For of what power is our voice so to cry out, as that all nations may hear? For Our Lord Jesus Christ has proclaimed it through the Apostles, has proclaimed it in so many tongues that He sent; and we see this Psalm, which before was only repeated in one nation, in the Synagogue of the Jews, now repeated throughout the whole world, throughout all Churches; and that fulfilled which is here spoken of, "Hear ye these words, all you nations."...Of whom you are: "With ears ponder, all you that dwell in the world." This He seems to have repeated a second time, lest to have said "hear," before, were too little. What I say, he says, "hear, with ears ponder," that is, hear not cursorily. What is, "with ears ponder"? It is what the Lord said, "he that has ears to hear, let him hear:" [Matthew 11:15] for as all who were in His presence must have had ears, what ears did He require save those of the heart, when He said, "he that has ears to hear, let him hear"? The same ears also this Psalm does smite. "With ears ponder, all you that dwell in the world." Perhaps there is here some distinction. We ought not indeed to narrow our view, but there is no harm in explaining even this view of the sense. Perhaps there is some difference between the saying, "all nations," and the saying, "all you that dwell in the world." For perchance he would have us understand the expression, "dwell in," with a further meaning, so as to take all nations for all the wicked, but the dwellers of the world all the just. For he does inhabit who is not held fast: but he that is occupied is inhabited, and does not inhabit. Just as he does possess whatever he has, who is master of his property: but a master is one who is not held in the meshes of covetousness: while he that is held fast by covetousness is the possessed, and not the possessor....

Exposition on Psalm 49

The voice of Christ alone, “without exception” calls all as one, rich and poor, noble and base. He invites all living on the earth, equally, as the opening of the psalm says, showing that he is to be feared by us on the evil day.

Commentary on the Psalms 49

Above, the Psalmist invited the nations to joy and thanksgiving for the benefits given to the people of God; here, however, he admonishes them to trust in God. And concerning this he does two things. First, he arouses attention. Second, he pursues his purpose. The title is not new. According to the title, however, a person is rendered attentive in two ways. In one way someone is said to be rendered attentive on the part of the hearers; in another way on the part of the things to be said, when he promises to say certain great things. Prov. 8: "Hear me, for I will speak of great things." And in this manner he speaks here. First, therefore, he renders them attentive on the part of those to whom he was speaking. Second, on the part of the things to be said, at "My mouth." He says, therefore, that the things he is about to say pertain to every rank of men and to all. And he touches on four differences among men. One from the diversity of peoples, because the people of the Jews was one, and that of the Gentiles another. Another on the part of places. Another on the part of origin. For some were noble and distinguished, others were not. Another on the part of fortune, because some were rich, others were not. He sets forth the first when he says, "Hear these things, all you nations," not only of the Jews, because these things pertain to all to hear; and this is necessary. Prov. 1: "The wise man hearing," etc. He sets forth the second when he says, "Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world," that is, from whatever part of the world. And he says "give ear," because one must both hear and perceive. Mt. 13: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear," that is, let him attend. Jerome has, "inhabitants of the west." As though it were a certain prophecy, because the faith of Christ flourishes especially among the people of the west, since in the north there are still many pagans, and in the east there are many schismatics and unbelievers. Or, "hear these things, all you nations" refers to the wicked; "you inhabitants of the world," to the good who have dominion over the earth.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

Both rich and poor together are called to a single vocation and invited to a certain humility and equality. The rich are not to turn up their noses at the poor, and the poor are not to be jealous of the rich. One grace joins both together. The Lord, though he was rich, became poor, so as to be Savior of poor and rich alike.

Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms, On Psalm 49

The inspired author is now on the point of telling us some great and ineffable truths. I mean, he would not have summoned those in all parts of the earth to listen, nor would he have set up the gallery of the world, were he not about to utter something great and famous and worthy of a gathering of such magnitude.… So since he called together the whole race to a hearing, let us too assuredly attend, and see what the psalmist wishes to say, this champion of the whole human race.

Commentary on the Psalms 49:1

And again he says, "both all you earthborn, and sons of men" [Psalm 49:2]. The expression "earthborn" refers to sinners; the expression "sons of men" to the faithful and righteous. You see then that this distinction is observed. Who are the "earthborn"? The children of the earth. Who are the children of the earth? They who desire earthly inheritances. Who are the "sons of men"? They who appertain to the Son of Man. We have already before explained this distinction to your Sanctity, and have concluded that Adam was a man, but not the son of man; that Christ was the Son of Man, but was God also. For whosoever pertain to Adam, are "earthborn:" whosoever pertain to Christ, are "sons of men." Nevertheless, let all hear, I withhold my discourse from no one. If one is "earthborn," let him hear, because of the judgment: another is a "son of man," let him hear for the kingdom's sake. "The rich and poor together." Again, the same words are repeated. The expression "rich" refers to the "earthborn;" but the word "poor" to the "sons of men." By the "rich" understand the proud, by the "poor" the humble....He says in another Psalm, "The poor shall eat and be satisfied." How has he commended the poor? "The poor shall eat and be satisfied." What eat they? That Food which the faithful know. How shall they be satisfied? By imitating the Passion of their Lord, and not without cause receiving their recompense. "The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and they shall praise the Lord who seek Him." What of the rich? Even they eat. But how eat they? "All the rich upon the earth have eaten and worshipped." He said not, "Have eaten and are satisfied;" but, "have eaten and worshipped." They worship God indeed, but they will not display brotherly humaneness. These eat and worship; those eat and are filled: yet both eat. Of the eater what he eats is required: let him not be forbidden by the distributor to eat, but let him be admonished to fear him who does require his account. Let these words then be heard by sinners and righteous, nations, and those who inhabit the world, "earthborn and sons of men, the rich and the poor together:" not divided, not separated. That is for the time of the harvest to do, the hand of the winnower will effect that. [Matthew 3:12] Now together let rich and poor hear, let goats and sheep feed in the same pasture, until He come who shall separate the one on His right hand, the other on His left. [Matthew 25:32] Let them all hear together the teacher, lest separated from one another they hear the voice of the Judge.

Exposition on Psalm 49

All people, listen to my words, city dwellers and country people, more refined and more rustic, all in common and also individuals.… Let nature in general hear my words, and each one reap the benefit for themselves.… Let those abounding in wealth and those caught up in poverty accept the exhortation alike, the word of instruction respecting no difference between wealth and poverty.

Commentary on the Psalms 49:3

He sets forth the third when he says, "all you who are earth-born," that is, the ignoble, "and sons of men," that is, the noble. Jerome has, "both sons of Adam and sons of individuals," because some have nothing distinguished from their parents. Mystically, the "earth-born" are called sinners, who cling to the earth through affection; hence they are compared to the serpent. Is. 65: "For the serpent" (that is, for the earthly), "dust shall be his bread." "Sons of men" are called the good, who bear the image of God and of Christ, who is the Son of Man. He sets forth the fourth when he says, "rich and poor together as one"; as if to say: let all of you hear these teachings, because they are useful for all. And what are they? Mt. 5: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Sir. 31: "Blessed is the rich man who is found without blemish," etc. Yet someone may be rich in fact but not in affection, and such a person can be holy, like Abraham and King Louis of France. Another is rich both in fact and in affection, and such a person is not holy. Of this it is said, Mt. 19: "It is easier for a camel to enter," etc., because just as it is against nature for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle, so for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven is against divine justice. And such people are earth-born; but the former are sons of men.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

If the meditation is wisdom, what will the message be? When the meditation of the heart is wisdom, wicked thoughts will not come within it, nor is a place given to the devil or those things that defile people.

Selections from the Psalms 49:4-5

All wisdom comes to be known by reflection and dissemination. So his meaning is, I deliberate on some wise ideas, and with the intention of disseminating them I want you all to be hearers of what is said by me. Hence his reference to “pondering,” for each person to realize that far from coming to instruction by accident, they are brought to learn by deep pondering and much practical experience.

Commentary on Psalm 49

And what is it they are now to hear? "My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and the meditation of my heart understanding" [Psalm 49:3]. And this repetition is perhaps made, lest perchance if he had said only "my mouth," you should suppose that one spoke to you who had understanding but in his lips. For many have understanding in their lips, but have not in their heart, of whom the Scripture says, "This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." [Isaiah 29:13] What says he then who speaks to you? When he has said, "My mouth shall speak of wisdom," in order that you may know that what is poured forth from the mouth flows from the bottom of the heart, he has added, "And the meditation of my heart of understanding."

Exposition on Psalm 49

"My mouth." Here he renders them attentive through the promise of the things to be said. Whoever teaches, either teaches things or teaches words. When we preach faith and morals, we teach things; when we expound Scripture, we teach words. First, therefore, he speaks of the first kind of teaching. Second, of the second, at "I will incline." But the knowledge of things is necessary for two purposes: namely, for the knowledge of truth and for use in action. Every knowledge of truth, therefore, that is necessary for us concerning other things, must be referred to the knowledge of the truth of divine things. Hence Augustine says: whoever examines these things without referring them to eternal things is idle. And therefore all knowledge of truth pertains to wisdom; and therefore he says, "My mouth shall speak wisdom." 1 Cor. 2: "We speak wisdom among the perfect." But that which is necessary with respect to use in action pertains to prudence, by which there is direction of human affairs; and therefore he says, "and the meditation of my heart shall speak prudence." Prov. 10: "Wisdom is prudence for a man," because wisdom applied to human and material things is prudence.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

The things that I teach, he says, from the Spirit, these I proclaim to you, saying nothing of my own, nothing human; but, since I have been listening to the propositions of the Spirit, who hands down in mystery to us the wisdom of God, I am opening for you and am making manifest the proposition; moreover, I am opening not otherwise than through psaltery. The psaltery is a musical instrument that gives out its sounds harmoniously with the melody of the voice. Accordingly, the rational psaltery is opened especially at that time when actions in harmony with the words are displayed. And he is a spiritual psaltery who has acted and has taught. He it is who opens the proposition in the psalms, setting forth the possibility of the teaching from his own example.… There is nothing incongruous or out of tune in his life.

Homilies on the Psalms 19:2 (ps 49)

The Lord opens up a theme or problem that has been closed when he finds an apt organ and a chosen instrument. Call it a harp. Such as this was Paul. He rang out the sweet canticle of grace, awaking all the strings of his harp in harmonious sound; plucking the inner chords by grace of the Holy Spirit and playing in ringing tones both interiorly and exteriorly.… Excellent harp, where a person’s life is in tune with his faith, and his flesh with his soul. Sweet harp, where discipline of lifestyle sings a canticle.

Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms, On Psalm 49

One who is in a calm spirit sings psalms. Through psalms he opens teaching. Through tranquility of spirit he understands teaching.

Notes on the Psalms 48[49].4, 5

The term “parable” or “proverb” has many meanings. A parable is a saying, an example, a reproach, as when he says, “You have made us a parable among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples.” A parable is also a riddle, which many call a question, suggesting something not immediately clear from the words but containing a meaning hidden within.… A parable also means a comparison: “He proposed another parable to them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man sowing good seed.’ ” A parable also means a figure of speech: “Son of man, tell them this proverb: The great eagle, the one with big wings,” meaning by eagle the king. A parable also means a type, or likeness, as Paul also shows in the words “By faith he sacrificed Isaac … whence also in figure he received him back,” that is, in type and in likeness. What then, does the “parable” mean to him here? It seems to me to refer to the narration.… The parable, you see, sorts out the worthy listener from the unworthy: whereas the worthy takes steps to find the meaning, the unworthy bypasses it.… Do you see the introduction he fashioned? He summoned the world, he abrogated inequality in lifestyle, called their attention to their nature, repressed their arrogance, promised to say something great and noble, denied he was saying anything of his own but what he had heard from him, hinted there was deep obscurity in the message, thus making them more attentive. He promised to teach us spiritual wisdom, on which he had meditated unceasingly. So let us pay attention and not pass it by. If in fact the message is wise, a parable, a riddle, there is need of a mind on the alert.

Commentary on the Psalms 49:2-3

"I will incline mine ear to the parable, I will show my proposition upon the harp" [Psalm 49:4]....And why "to a parable"? Because "now we see through a glass darkly," [1 Corinthians 13:12] as says the Apostle; "while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord." [2 Corinthians 5:6] For our vision is not yet that face to face, where there are no longer parables, where there no longer are riddles and comparisons. Whatever now we understand we behold through riddles. A riddle is a dark parable which it is hard to understand. Howsoever a man may cultivate his heart and apply himself to apprehend mysteries, so long as we see through the corruption of this flesh, we see but in part....But as He was seen by those who believed, and by those who crucified Him, when He was judged; so will He be seen, when He shall have begun to be judge, both by those whom He shall condemn, and by those whom He shall crown. But that vision of divinity, which He has promised to them that love Him, when He says, "He that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and he that loves Me keeps My commandments, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him:" [John 14:21] this the ungodly shall not see. This manifestation is in a certain way familiar: He keeps it for His own, He will not show it to the ungodly. Of what sort is the vision itself? Of what sort is Christ? Equal to the Father. Of what sort is Christ? "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." [John 1:1] For this vision we sigh now, and groan so long as we sojourn here; to this vision we shall be brought home at the last, this vision now we see but darkly. If then we see now darkly, let us "incline our ear to the parable," and then let us "show our proposition upon the harp:" let us hear what we say, do what we enjoin.

Exposition on Psalm 49

The words put forward by me are full of wisdom, he is saying, but I learned them by submitting my hearing to the words hidden in the depths. And what I learned through hearing I put forward through the organ of the tongue. Now, he means to say, I utter nothing of my own; rather, I am an instrument of divine grace.

Commentary on the Psalms 49:4

"I will incline." Here he treats of the second kind of teaching, namely of obscure words; and two things are necessary concerning them. First, that one study to understand. Second, that one study to explain them to others. With respect to the first he says, "I will incline my ear to a parable." A parable is a certain saying when it has an obscure similitude; as if to say: I will devote study to understanding the sayings of others. Prov. 1: "He will observe the parable and its interpretation, the words of the wise and their riddles." Or, "I will incline my ear to the parable" which God speaks, because he speaks enigmatically; as if to say: I will incline my understanding to the voice of the Lord, who speaks parabolically. "I will open on the Psaltery my proposition." "Proposition" is said in two ways. In one way it means that which I desire above other things, and it is that which I most desire; "I will open it on the Psaltery," that is, in my action, because this is the best way to open one's intention; for if you propose to enter eternal life, you do not manifest your intention if you do not have good works. Or "proposition" is an obscure saying, or one proposed for the sake of testing; thus Samson, Judg. 14, proposed a riddle; hence he says, "If you had not plowed with my heifer"; and so "proposition" is taken here. And therefore Jerome says that it is an obscure saying. The Hebrews have, "my divination," which is the same thing.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

It strikes many people, in fact, as extremely strange and intriguing to say there is nothing to fear in the troubles of life. What, therefore, should I fear, he asks, in the evil day? One thing only, the risk of the lawlessness of my way and my life surrounding me.… Those who fear it will never fear anything else; instead, they will mock the goods of this life and scorn its troubles, that fear alone making their mind tremble. Nothing, you see, nothing else is fearsome for the person possessed of this fear, not even death, the very acme of fearsome things apart from this alone.… The person afraid only of that, and of nothing else, will be like an angel; there is, in fact, nothing else to be afraid of, if one fears that, as one should fear it—just as the one not fearing it is exposed to many fearsome things.

Commentary on the Psalms 49:3-4

And what has he said? "And wherefore shall I fear in the evil day? The iniquity of my heel shall compass me" [Psalm 49:5]. He begins something obscurely. Therefore he ought the rather to fear if the iniquity of his heel shall compass him. Nay, for let not man fear, he says, who has not power to escape. For example, he who fears death, what shall he do to escape death? Let him tell me how he is to escape what Adam owes, he who is born of Adam. But let him consider that he is born of Adam, and has followed Christ, and ought to pay what Adam owes, and obtain what Christ has promised. Therefore, he who fears death can no wise escape: but he who fears the damnation which the ungodly shall hear, "Go ye into everlasting fire," [Matthew 25:41] has an escape. Let him not fear then. For why should he fear? Will the iniquity of his heel compass him? If then he avoid "the iniquity of his heel," and walk in the ways of God, he shall not come to the evil day: the evil day, the last day, shall not be evil to him....Now while they live, let them take heed to themselves, let them put away iniquity from their heel: let them walk in that way, let them walk in the way of which He says Himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life:" [John 14:6] and let them not fear in the evil day, for He gives them safety who became "The Way." Therefore let them avoid the iniquity of their heel. With the heel a man slips. Let your Love observe. What was said by God to the Serpent? "She shall mark your head, and you shall mark her heel." The devil marks your heel, in order that when you slip he may overthrow you. He marks your heel, do thou mark his head. What is his head? The beginning of an evil suggestion. When he begins to suggest evil thoughts, then you thrust him away before pleasure arises, and consent follows; and so shall you avoid his head, and he shall not grasp your heel. But wherefore said He this to Eve? Because through the flesh man does slip. Our flesh is an Eve within us. "He that loves his wife," he says, "loves himself." What means "himself"? He continues, and says, "For no man ever yet has hated his own flesh." [Ephesians 5:28-29] Because then the devil would make us slip through the flesh, just as he made that man Adam to slip, through Eve; Eve is bidden to mark the head of the devil, because the devil marks her heel. "If then the iniquity of our heel shall compass us, why fear we in the evil day," since being converted to Christ we are able not to do iniquity; and there will be nothing to compass us, and we shall joy and not sorrow in the last day?

Exposition on Psalm 49

I fear and dread the day of retribution, on which the righteous Judge will repay everyone according to their works. Now, aware of this, keep such fear before your eyes in your own case.… But if you were to inquire why I am afraid, listen closely: it is an evil day, about which countless declamations are made in the inspired Scriptures. The cause of my fear is the life of lawlessness, through which I strayed from the straight and narrow.

Commentary on the Psalms 49:5

"Why shall I fear?" Having set forth the introduction of the Psalm in which he aroused the attention of the people, here he proceeds to the principal purpose, which is to lead men not to fear present evils, nor to trust in present goods, but that their fear and trust should be in God alone. And concerning this he does two things. First, he shows what is to be feared. Second, he shows what they should not fear, at "Do not fear." Concerning the first he does two things. First, he proposes his intention. Second, he proves his proposition, at "Those who trust." Concerning the first he does two things. First, he proposes the question. Second, he sets forth the conclusion. The question is, "Why shall I fear in the evil day?" Here, first, it must be seen what this evil day is, because all days are from God. But they are called evil on account of the evils that occur in them. Eph. 5: "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." The evil day can therefore be called the day on which some peril occurs, and especially that on which the peril of eternal damnation threatens, and this is the day of judgment. Zeph. 1: "The voice of the day of the Lord is bitter; the strong man shall be in tribulation there." Therefore, "Why shall I fear in the evil day?" That is, what shall make me fear in that day? And he answers, "The iniquity of my heel shall surround me." For nothing is to be feared except sin, because no adversity shall harm if no iniquity holds sway. Prov. 28: "The wicked man flees when no one pursues." Sir. 34: "He who fears God shall tremble at nothing." And therefore he says, "the iniquity of my heel." By "heel" three things can be understood. First, because it is the lowest part of the body. And therefore "the iniquity of my heel" is the iniquity that persists until the end of life; and in this way "heel" is taken in Gen. 3: "She" (namely, the woman) "shall crush your head," namely, the higher reason; but she shall crush the head of the serpent, "and you shall lie in wait for her heel," that is, you shall lie in wait for her until the end of life. Likewise, by "heel" can be understood the weakness of the flesh, because when a man fails, the heel slips. And thus "the iniquity of the heel," that is, the sin proceeding from the weakness of the flesh, "shall surround me." Third, unjust persecution, which one moves against another, according to Jn. 13: "He who eats my bread shall lift up his heel against me." And thus "the iniquity of the heel," that is, unjust persecution, is turned back against the persecutor. Prov. 5: "His own iniquities catch the wicked man."

Exposition on the Psalms of David

Even if he seems to be one of the very powerful people in this life, even if he is surrounded with a great number of possessions, these words teach him to descend from such a notion and to humble himself under the mighty hand of God. … Not even the soul is complete in itself for salvation.… Every human soul has bowed down under the evil yoke of slavery imposed by the common enemy of all and, being deprived of the very freedom that it received from the Creator, has been led captive through sin. Every captive has need of ransoms for his freedom. Now, neither a brother can ransom his brother, nor can anyone ransom himself, because he who is ransoming must be much better than he who has been overcome and is now a slave. But, actually, no one has the power with respect to God to make atonement for a sinner, since he himself is liable for sin. “All have sinned and have need of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” our Lord.

Homilies on the Psalms 19:3 (ps 49)

But who are they whom the "iniquity of their heel shall compass"? "They who trust in their virtue, and in the abundance of their riches do glory" [Psalm 49:6]. Therefore such sins will I avoid, and the "iniquity of my heel" shall never compass me. What is avoiding such sins? Let us not trust in our own virtue, let us not glory in the abundance of our own riches, but let us glory in Him who has promised to us, being humble, exaltation, and has threatened condemnation to men exalted; and then iniquity of our heel shall never compass us.

Exposition on Psalm 49

6–9

"Those who trust in their own strength." Here is set forth the reason why there is cause for fear, namely on account of sin. And there is a twofold reason why sin should be feared. First, on account of the impossibility of escaping the punishment of sin. Job 11: "Refuge shall perish from them, and their hope shall be the abomination of the soul." The other reason is on account of the evils that threaten the wicked. First, therefore, he sets forth the impossibility of escaping punishment. Second, he shows the evils threatening the wicked, at "He shall not see." Someone escapes punishments, first, through extrinsic help; second, through his own solicitude; third, through the failure of the subject, as when he dies. And he shows that by none of these means can one escape. First, on account of help. Second, that neither through a remedy provided by oneself. Third, that neither through the failure of the subject. He who wishes to be freed through help is sometimes freed by the power of his army. Jn. 18: "If my kingdom were of this world, my servants," etc. Sometimes through riches. Prov. 6: "He will hand over all the substance of his house and free himself." Sometimes through friends. And he shows that none of these can free from the punishment of sin. And although according to the Gloss it is read differently, yet according to the Hebrews it is read that God frees those who trust in him. "A brother will not redeem"; as if to say: a brother will not redeem those who trust in him. And therefore first he shows that one is not helped against the punishment of sin by the help of friends, because the power of friends is small. And therefore one should not trust in the bodily strength of friends. Hence he says, "Those who trust in their own strength," namely that of their friends, or in their own special strength, because "there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end leads to death," Prov. 14. Likewise, those who trust in the strength of their riches are not freed from the punishment of sin by all these things, because Prov. 11: "Those who trust in their riches shall fall." For one should not trust in bodily or spiritual riches, but a man should seek his salvation as best he can. Jer. 9: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, and let not the strong man glory in his strength, and let not the rich man glory in his riches." Nor can a person closely related to him, no matter how closely, redeem him, that is, free him from sin or from punishment. Ezek. 14: "If these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in its midst, they by their justice would deliver their own souls." But since a brother cannot redeem someone however closely related, shall a man redeem? No, because a man cannot snatch anyone from the hand of God, but God alone shall redeem them. And a man, namely Christ: a man, so that the price, that is, death, might have a place in him, and God so that he might have the power to redeem. Or, differently: "brother," that is, Christ, who is our true brother. Ps. 21: "I will declare your name to my brothers." Song 8: "Who will give you to me for a brother?" etc. If this one does not redeem, who else will redeem? As if to say: no one. "He will not give God his appeasement." Here he shows that they do not escape punishment on account of anything they do while they are in sin, because sinners need a twofold remedy on account of the twofold evil they incur, namely the offense against God and the debt of punishment. And therefore they need to appease God, which they themselves cannot do, because since they do not please God and are enemies of God, neither does he accept their offerings. Hence he says, "He will not give God his appeasement," because exterior things do not please God unless there is interior grace, which a mere man cannot give. Likewise, they need to be absolved from punishment; and this too a man cannot do. Hence he says, "Nor can he give the price of the redemption of his soul," namely, a mere man; and therefore he cannot free from punishment. Ps. 88: "What man is he who shall live and not see death, and shall deliver his soul from the hand of Hell?" But Christ, who is God and man, gave appeasement for us. Rom. 5: "When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God," etc. Likewise, the price of redemption alone: 1 Pet. 1: "You were redeemed from your vain manner of life," etc. Or, "he will not give," that is, he will not care to give appeasement and the price of the redemption of his soul, namely he who trusts in riches. And according to this the other reading can be continued, which says: "A brother," namely Christ, does not redeem, because they do not care to appease God through penance, because Christ does not help those who do not wish to help themselves. "And he shall labor." Here he shows that he will not escape through the failure of himself, because he is always punished. Hence he says, "He shall labor forever," that is, he shall be punished with eternal punishment. Mt. 25: "These shall go into everlasting punishment," because they did not wish to labor here. Ps. 72: "They are not in the labor of men." And because, as far as it was in them, they sinned forever, because they preferred sin to the law of God; and therefore they do not fear punishment, but would always wish to commit sin. "And he shall still live unto the end," that is, his life shall not fail in punishments. Job 20: "He shall suffer for all that he has done, yet he shall not be consumed."

Exposition on the Psalms of David

In fact, what can one find great enough that he may give it for the ransom of his soul? But one thing was found worth as much as all people together. This was given for the price of ransom for our souls, the holy and highly honored blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he poured out for all of us; therefore, we were bought at a great price. If, then, a brother does not redeem, will a man redeem? But if man cannot redeem us, he who redeems us is not a man. Now, do not assume, because he sojourned with us “in the likeness of sinful flesh,” that our Lord is only man, failing to discern the power of the divinity, who had no need to give God a ransom for himself or to redeem his own soul because “he did no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” No one is sufficient to redeem himself, unless he comes who turns away the captivity of the people, not with ransoms or with gifts, as it is written in Isaiah, but in his own blood.… He does not need a ransom, but he himself is the propitiation.

Homily on Psalms 19:4 (ps 49)

This alone—namely, sin—is not up for sale, nor does it get help from family connections, as elsewhere also the Lord says that even if Noah, Daniel and Job were to rise up, they would not save their children from their crimes.

Commentary on Psalm 49

Just as there is one God, “so too there is only one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” He is unique. He alone redeems humankind. He goes far beyond brotherly love, for he sheds his own blood for strangers. None other could offer him for his brother. To redeem us from sin, he did not spare his own body “but gave himself as redemption for all.” … Why, you might ask, is Christ the only one who redeems? I reply that no one has love equal to his; no one but he can lay down his life for his little servants; no one can equal him in innocence and integrity. For we are all under sin; in Adam’s fall we all had fallen. No one could be chosen as our redeemer except the One who was in no way subject to the ancient sin. It follows that by “the man” we must understand the Lord Jesus. He took on himself the human condition, to crucify in his own flesh our sin and so blot out in his blood the handwriting of the charge that had been made against our whole race.

Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms, On Psalm 49

There are some who rely on their friends, others rely on their virtue, others on their riches. This is the presumption of mankind which relies not on God. He has spoken of virtue, he has spoken of riches, he speaks of friends. "Brother redeems not, shall man redeem?" [Psalm 49:7]. Do you expect that man shall redeem you from the wrath to come? If brother redeem you not, shall man redeem you? Who is the brother, who if He has not redeemed you, no man will redeem? It is He who said after His resurrection, "Go, tell My brethren." [Matthew 28:10] Our Brother He has willed to be: and when we say to God, "Our Father," this is manifested in us. For he that says to God, "Our Father;" says to Christ, "Brother." Therefore let him that has God for his Father and Christ for his Brother, not fear in the evil day. "For the iniquity of his heel shall not compass him;" for he relies not on his virtue, nor glories in the abundance of his riches, nor vaunts himself of his powerful friends. Let him rely on Him who died for him, that he might not die eternally: who for his sake was humbled, in order that he might be exalted; who sought him ungodly, in order that He might be sought by him faithful. Therefore if He redeem not, shall man redeem? Shall any man redeem, if the Son of man redeem not? If Christ redeem not, shall Adam redeem? "Brother redeems not, shall man redeem?"

Exposition on Psalm 49

Now, you need to understand that virtue and godliness neither of forebears nor brothers is of benefit to those lacking them, nor is it possible after departure from here to buy salvation with money. It is in the present life, you see, as a sage says, “one’s own wealth is his ransom.”

Commentary on the Psalms 49:6

7–8

Again, in Psalm 49, we have 'No man may deliver his brother . . . for it cost more to redeem their souls; so that he must let that alone forever' (7, 8). Who would not think that this referred to the redeeming work of Christ? No man can 'save' the soul of another. The price of salvation is one that only the Son of God could pay; as the hymn says, there was no other 'good enough to pay the price'. The very phrasing of our version strengthens the effect—the verb redeem which (outside the pawnbroking business) is now used only in a theological sense, and the past tense of cost. Not it 'costs', but it did cost, more, once and for all on Calvary. But apparently the Hebrew poet meant something quite different and much more ordinary. He means merely that death is inevitable. As Dr Moffatt translates it: 'None can buy himself off. Not one can purchase for a price from God (soul's ransom is too dear) life that shall never end.'

Reflections on the Psalms, Chapter 4: Death in the Psalms

Just as a parent would not choose a house in preference to his child, just so God would not choose the world in preference to the soul.… Do you want to learn how great the price for our souls? The Only-begotten, intending to redeem us, gave not the world, not a human being, not land, not sea, but his precious blood. Thus Paul too said, “A price has been paid for you; do not become people’s slaves.” Do you see the greatness of the price?… Do you see how elevated the soul’s dignity? Consequently, never despise the soul nor make it captive.

Commentary on Psalms 49:5

Sin is worse than everything; it is this that must be feared, not the possibility of being in need of money, since a person who is rich and in the grip of a multitude of sins is in real difficulty and does not find release from the troubles.… Nor can he then himself by paying money to God prevail on him to desist from punishment; nor does he succeed in redeeming his soul, weighed down as it is with sin. And so sin is worse than anything, since no one who is weighed down by it and is consequently the object of punishment by God can be freed from danger.

Commentary on Psalms 49:6B-9

"He shall not give to God his propitiation, and the price of the redemption of his soul" [Psalm 49:8]. He trusts in his virtue, and in the abundance of his riches does glory, who "shall not give to God his propitiation:" that is, satisfaction whereby he may prevail with God for his sins: "nor the price of the redemption of his soul," who relies on his virtue, and on his friends, and on his riches. But who are they that give the price of the redemption of their souls? They to whom the Lord says, "Make to yourselves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness, that they may receive you into everlasting habitations." [Luke 16:9] They give the price of the redemption of their soul who cease not to do almsdeeds. So those whom the Apostle charges by Timothy he would not have to be proud, lest they should glory in the abundance of their riches. Lastly, what they possessed he would not have to grow old in their hands: but that something should be made of it to be for the price of the redemption of their souls. For he says, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded: nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." [1 Timothy 6:17] And as if they had said, "What shall we then make of our riches?" he continues, "Let them be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate," [1 Timothy 6:18] and they will not lose that. How know we? Hear what follows. "Let them lay up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the true life." [1 Timothy 6:19] So shall they give the price of the redemption of their soul. And our Lord counsels this: "Make for yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where thief approaches not, neither moth corrupts." [Luke 12:33] God would not have you lose your wealth, but He has given you counsel to change the place thereof. Let your love understand. Suppose your friend were just now to enter your house, and find you had placed your store of grain in a damp place, and he knew the natural proneness of grain to decay, which thou perchance knew not, he would give you counsel of this sort, saying, "Brother, you are losing what with great toil you have gathered, you have placed it in a damp place, in a few days this grain will decay." And what am I to do, brother? "Raise it into a higher place." You would hearken to your friend suggesting that you should raise grain from a lower to a higher chamber, and do you not hearken to Christ charging you to lift your treasure from earth to heaven, where not what you keep in store may be paid to you, but that you may keep in store earth, may receive heaven, may keep in store things mortal, may receive things everlasting, that while you lend Christ to receive at your hands but a small loan upon earth, He may repay you a great recompense in Heaven? Nevertheless, they whom "the iniquity of their heel shall compass," because they trust in their virtue, and in the abundance of their riches do glory, and rely on human friends who are able to help them in nothing, "shall not give to God their propitiation, and the price of the redemption of their souls."

Exposition on Psalm 49

And what has he said of such a man? "Yea, he has laboured for ever, and shall live till the end" [Psalm 49:9]. His labour shall be without end, his life shall have an end. Wherefore says he, "He shall live till the end"? Because such men think life to be nought but daily enjoyments. So when many poor and needy men of our times, unstable, and not looking to what God does promise them for their labours, see rich men in daily feastings, in the splendour and glitter of gold and of silver, they say what? "These are the only people; they really live!" This is a saying, be it said no longer: we both warn you, and it remains to warn you, that it be said by fewer persons than it would be said, if we had not warned you. For we do not presume to say that we so say these words, as that it be not said, but that it be said by fewer persons: for it will be said even unto the end of the world. It is too little that he says, "he lives;" he adds and says, he thunders, do you think that he alone lives? Let him live! His life will be ended: because he gives not the price of the redemption of his soul, his life will end, his labour will not end. "He laboured for ever, and shall live till the end." How shall he live till the end? As he lived that was "clothed with purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day," [Luke 16:19] who, being proud and puffed up, spurned the man full of sores lying before his gate, whose sores the dogs licked, and who longed for the crumbs which fell from his table. What did those riches profit him? Both changed places: the one was borne from the rich man's gate into Abraham's bosom, the other from his rich feasts was cast into the fire; the one was in peace, the other burned; the one was sated, the other thirsted; the one had laboured till the end, but he lived for ever; the other had lived till the end, but he laboured for ever. And what did it profit the rich man, who asked, while lying in torments in hell, that a drop of water should be poured upon his tongue from the finger of Lazarus, saying, "For I am burning here in this flame," [Luke 16:24] and it was not granted to him? One longed for the drop from the finger, as the other had for the crumbs from the rich man's table; but the labour of the one is ended, and the life of the other is ended: the labour of this is for ever, the life of that is for ever. We who labour perchance here on the earth, have not our life here: and shall not be so placed hereafter, for our life shall be Christ for ever: while they who "will" have their life here, shall labour for ever and live till the end.

Exposition on Psalm 49

A fool has no discernment, and his thoughts are stupid. The unwise person can think, but what he thinks is bad: “The unwise person has said that there is no God.” He is culpably wicked because he knows what goodness is. Yet, though he knows it, he commits iniquity in the evil of his own heart. He is also dishonest. Again, not because he does not know what honesty is but because he is so twisted that he would wish to destroy honesty.

Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms, On Psalm 49

"For he shall not see death, though he shall have seen wise men dying" [Psalm 49:10]. The man who laboured for ever and shall live till the end, "shall not see death, though he shall have seen wise men dying." What is this? He shall not comprehend what death is, whenever he shall have seen wise men dying. For he says to himself, "this fellow, for all he was wise and dwelled with wisdom and worshipped God with piety, is he not dead? Therefore I will enjoy myself while I live; for if they that are wise in other respects, could do anything, they would not have died." Just as the Jews saw Christ hanging on the Cross and despised Him, saying, "If this Man were the Son of God, He would come down from the Cross:" [Matthew 27:40, 42] not seeing what death is. If they had seen what death is; if they had seen, I say. He died for a time, that He might live again for ever: they lived for a time, that they might die for ever. But because they saw Him dying, they saw not death, that is to say, they understood not what was very death. What say they even in Wisdom? "Let us condemn Him with a most shameful death, for by His own sayings He shall be respected;" for if he is indeed the Son of God, He will deliver Him from the hands of His adversaries: He will not suffer His Son to die, if He is truly His Son. But when they saw themselves insulting Him upon the Cross, and Him not descending from the Cross, they said, He was indeed but a Man. Thus was it spoken: and surely He could have come down from the Cross, He that could rise again from the tomb: but He taught us to bear with those who insult us; He taught us to be patient of the tongues of men, to drink now the cup of bitterness, and afterwards to receive everlasting salvation....

Exposition on Psalm 49

All those great, wise and outspoken will die, not only the foolish and those who gather riches. They are unwilling to have mercy on the ones in need, and they leave their riches behind for others. Although they have many houses, their tombs are their house for eternity. Wretched person. He does not understand that while he is in this body he begins to die.

Commentary on the Psalms 49

"He shall not see." Above, the Psalmist showed that there is cause to fear on account of sin, because there is no remedy for escaping punishment; here, however, he treats of the evils that threaten them on account of their improvidence. And concerning this he does three things. First, he commemorates their improvidence regarding future evils. Second, he commemorates the evils that threaten, at "They shall leave to strangers." Third, he sets forth the hope in God by which he hopes to be freed from these evils, at "Nevertheless." Concerning the first he does two things. First, he shows their improvidence. Second, the cause of their ignorance, at "When he shall see." He says, therefore, that such a person to whom so many evils threaten "shall not see," that is, shall not consider "destruction," that is, his own damnation. For it belongs to the just to remember their last end, Sir. 7. But of these it is said, Dt. 32: "A nation without prudence and without counsel." And why do the unjust not provide for themselves? The reason is given in Eccl. 9: "This is the worst among all things that are done under the sun: that the same things happen to all." And therefore they do not consider what may befall them in the future. And therefore, "when he shall see even the wise dying"; but seeing bodily death, they do not consider their glory. Wis. 4: "They shall see the end of the wise man and shall not understand what God has designed for him." There is a difference between the foolish and the stupid. The foolish man is one who has human knowledge but does not consider eternal things; the stupid man is one who does not consider even present things. Or the foolish man is one who does not attend to present evils but to future ones; the stupid man is one who attends to them but does not avoid them. Hence he says, "The foolish and the stupid shall perish together." According to Jerome, there is a twofold cause of the contempt of the unjust: length of life, and the fact that they see the wise and the foolish die together.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

"And they shall leave." Here he sets forth the evils that befall sinners. And first he sets forth the evils that occur in the present. Second, he sets forth the evils that will come in the future, at "Like sheep." Concerning the first he does two things. First, he sets forth the evils that occur in the present with respect to extrinsic goods. Second, with respect to intrinsic goods, at "When he was in honor." And he shows first what the wicked man loses through death. He says that he loses riches; hence he says, "They shall leave their riches to strangers." Jer. 17: "He has made riches, and not by judgment; in the midst of his days he shall leave them." And he says, "their own," as if possessed by themselves; or because he did not use them for the benefit of others. Phil. 2: "All seek the things that are their own." And he says, "to strangers," because often strangers, that is, those unrelated according to the flesh, receive their riches. Ps. 38: "He stores up treasure and knows not for whom he gathers it." Even if sometimes he leaves riches to his children, they are nevertheless strangers, as is said in Lk. 10: "That one is a neighbor who showed mercy to him." And it happens that children and grandchildren do nothing good for the dead; but two things remain for them of the things of the world: a tomb and human reputation.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

It seems quite clear that in most parts of the Old Testament there is little or no belief in a future life; certainly no belief that is of any religious importance. The word translated 'soul' in our version of the Psalms means simply 'life'; the word translated 'hell' means simply 'the land of the dead', the state of all the dead, good and bad alike, Sheol. [...] In many passages this is quite clear, even in our translation, to every attentive reader. The clearest of all is the cry in 89:46: 'O remember how short my time is: why hast thou made all men for nought?' We all come to nothing in the end. Therefore 'every man living is altogether vanity' (39:6). Wise and foolish have the same fate (49:10). Once dead, a man worships God no more; 'Shall the dust give thanks unto thee?' (30:10); 'for in death no man remembereth thee' (6:5). Death is 'the land' where, not only worldly things, but all things, 'are forgotten' (88:12). When a man dies 'all his thoughts perish' (146:3). Every man will 'follow the generation of his fathers, and shall never see light' (49:19): he goes into a darkness which will never end.

Reflections on the Psalms, Chapter 4: Death in the Psalms

One who is dead through sins does not dwell in a house but a sepulcher, since his soul is dead.… The thoroughly depraved person dwells in a sepulcher and does not even lay down a foundation of penance because of his dead works, but he is “like a whited sepulcher, which outwardly is very conspicuous but inwardly is full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness.” Therefore, when such a one speaks, he does not open his mouth in the word of God, but he has an open sepulcher as his throat.

Homilies on the Psalms 19:6 (ps 49)

But do those same aliens indeed serve them who are called their own? Hear in what they serve them, observe how they are ridiculed: why has he said, "to strangers"? Because they can do them no good. Nevertheless, wherein do they seem to themselves to do good? "And their tombs shall be their house for ever" [Psalm 49:11]. Now because these tombs are erected, the tombs are a house. For often you hear a rich man saying, I have a house of marble which I must quit, and I think not for myself of an eternal house, where I shall always be. When he thinks to make for himself a monument of marble or of sculpture, he is deeming as it were of an eternal house: as if therein this rich man would abide! If he would abide there, he would not burn in hell. We must consider that the place where the spirit of an evil doer abides, is not where the mortal body is laid: but "their tombs shall be their house for ever. Their dwelling places are from generation to generation." "Dwelling places" are wherein they abode for a season: "house" is wherein they will abide as it were for ever, that is to say, their tombs. Thus they leave their dwelling places, where they abode while they lived, to their families, and they pass as it were to everlasting houses, to their tombs. What profit to them are "their dwelling places, from generation to generation"? Now suppose a generation and generation are sons, grandsons there will be, and great grandsons; what do their dwelling places, what do they profit them? What? Hear: "they shall invoke their names in their lands." What is this? They shall take bread and wine to their tombs, and there they shall invoke the names of the dead. Do you consider how loudly was invoked the name of the rich man after his death, when men drank them drunk at his monument, and there came down not one drop upon his own burning tongue? Men minister to their own belly, not to the ghosts of their friends. The souls of the dead nothing does reach, but what they have done of themselves while alive: but if they have done nought of themselves while alive, nothing does reach them dead. But what do the survivors? They will but "invoke their names in their lands."

Exposition on Psalm 49

Bereft not only of wisdom but also of influence and all affluence, they will meet their end, dispatched from their lavish homes to graves and forced to occupy them forever.

Commentary on the Psalms 49:8

The second, at "Their dwellings." With respect to the first he says: they had houses and vineyards and chariots and many precious things. But what shall they have in death? In place of a palace they shall have a tomb, and this "forever," that is, until the day of judgment they shall dwell in their tombs. Or, from the fact that they build elaborate tombs, they believe they shall dwell in them forever; but they are deceived, because even the tombs shall be destroyed. Hence, although according to their opinion those tombs are their houses forever, yet it is not so. Jerome, however, has it differently: "Their inward parts are their houses forever," because a man has a twofold house: an exterior one, and this does not remain forever; and an interior one, namely the conscience, and this remains. Is. 38: "Set your house in order." Whether good or evil, it always remains. "Their dwellings." Here he shows that neither fame nor anything memorable of a man remains after death. The memorable things of a man are strong buildings; therefore he says, "their dwellings from generation to generation"; as if to say, they are built as if they will last forever; but they are deceived, because they are destroyed. Job 21: "Where is the house of the prince, and where are the dwellings of the wicked?" Mk. 13: "Do you see these great buildings? There shall not be left," etc. And he says "dwellings," because they do not remain in them for long. "They have called their names upon their lands"; as if to say: this is the intention of this building, that they might be named in their lands. Gen. 11: "Come, let us build a city and a tower, and let us make a name," etc. Sir. 40: "The building of a city establishes a name." Hence they call cities by their own name. And he says "their own," because the name of anyone does not extend much beyond his own land. And therefore it is foolish for a man to celebrate his name in his lands. Or, "they will call their names," that is, of the deceased, "upon their lands," by carrying food to their tombs.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

David wept for Adam, at how he fell from that royal abode to the abode of wild animals. Because he went astray through a beast he became like the beasts. He ate, together with them as a result of the curse, grass and roots, and he died, becoming their peer. Blessed is he who set him apart from the wild animals again.

Hymns on Paradise 13:5

Humankind, then, having been advanced above other created things in honor, did not understand and neglected to follow God and to become like the Creator. Becoming a slave of the passions of the flesh, “he is compared with senseless beasts and is become like them”: now he is like an amorous horse that neighs after his neighbor’s wife, now like a ravenous wolf, lying in wait for strangers, but at another time, because of his deceit toward his brother, he makes himself like the villainous fox. Truly, there is excessive folly and beast-like lack of reason, that he, made according to the image of the Creator, neither perceives his own constitution from the beginning, nor even wishes to understand such great dispensations that were made for his sake, at least, to learn his own dignity from them, but that he is unmindful of the fact that, throwing aside the image of the heavenly, he has taken up the image of the earthly. In order that he might not remain in sin, for his sake “The Word was made flesh and dwelled among us,” and he humbled himself to such an extent as to become “obedient to death, even to death on a cross.”

Homilies on the Psalms 19:8 (ps 49)

Despite having so much enjoyment in the present life, possessing many natural advantages by comparison with other living creatures and enjoying a great number of gifts, they did not understand the greatness of the honor conferred on them by God; instead, by their insensitivity to the possession of their attributes they are no different from cattle, which possess no intelligence.… While giving little heed to thanking the giver, they live a heedless life and grow old in their sins. Thus, they also are the objects of a rigorous verdict from God.

Commentary on Psalms 49:13

"And man though he was in honour perceived not, he was compared to the beasts without sense, and was made like to them" [Psalm 49:12]....They ought, on the contrary, to have made ready for themselves an eternal house in good works, to have made ready for themselves everlasting life, to have sent before them expenditure, to have followed their works, to have ministered to a needy companion, to have given to him with whom they were walking, not to have despised Christ covered with sores before their gate, who has said, "Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it unto Me." [Matthew 25:40] However, "man being in honour has not understood." What is, "being in honour"? Being made after the image and likeness of God, man is preferred to beasts. For God has not so made man as He made a beast: but God has made man for beasts to minister to: is it to his strength then, and not to his understanding? Nay. But he "understood not;" and he who was made after the image of God, "is compared to the beasts without sense, and is made like them." Whence it is said elsewhere, "Be not like to horse and mule, in which there is no understanding."

Exposition on Psalm 49

The true honor of humankind is to be the image and the likeness of God that is preserved only in relation to him by whom it is impressed. Thus, he clings to God so much the more, the less he loves what is his own. But through the desire of proving his own power, a person by his own will falls down into himself, as into a sort of center. Since he, therefore, wishes to be like God under no one, then as a punishment he is also driven from the center, which he himself is, into the depths, that is, into those things in which the beasts delight; and thus, since the likeness to God is his honor, the likeness to the beasts is his disgrace.

On the Trinity 12:11.16

Read and understand these words, that you may rather with a humble spirit guard against the reproach yourself, than arrogantly throw it out against another person.

On the Soul and Its Origin 4:15

The honour belonging to rational nature is the discernment that tells good from evil, and those who have destroyed it are justly compared to “mindless cattle,” which have no rational and discerning faculty.

Ascetical Homilies 47

"And man." Above, the Psalmist set forth the evils that threaten the wicked with respect to the loss of exterior goods; here, however, he sets forth those that threaten them from the corruption of interior goods. And concerning this he does two things. First, he proposes the evil of interior corruption. Second, he shows what follows from this evil, at "This is their way." It should be known that man is composed of a rational and a sensitive nature. According to his rational nature, man has a likeness to God and the Angels. Gen. 1: "Let us make man in our image and likeness." Ps. 8: "You have made him a little less than the Angels." But according to his sensitive nature, he shares in common with beasts. First, therefore, he sets forth the honor of man with respect to the fact that he has a likeness to the Angels; hence he says, "Man, when he was in honor." According to the Philosopher, honor is something more excellent than praise, because praise is ordered to something else, whereas honor is in and of itself. And he says "he was," namely like God. And from the fact that he possesses these things, he sets forth three things: first, that he does not consider these things, namely that he is like God. Second, that he declines into bestial ignorance and baseness. Third, that he falls into bestial acts. With respect to the first he says, "He did not understand," namely that he was made in the image of God, and that he was fit to possess heavenly things. Wis. 2: "Nor did they hope for the reward of justice, nor did they judge the honor of holy souls." With respect to the second he says, "He is compared to senseless beasts." Brute animals act from passion; and this is evident, because a dog immediately when it is angry, barks; a horse, when it desires, neighs; but this is not imputed to them, because they lack reason. If, therefore, a man immediately when he desires follows his passion, and when angry strikes, he is compared in his action to senseless beasts. Ps. 31: "Do not become like the horse and mule," etc. With respect to the third he says, "And he is made like them." For when the nature of brutes is inclined toward something, it uses passion in that way, and custom turns into nature. When a man, therefore, becomes accustomed to living according to passion, it already turns into nature; and therefore "he is made like them" through a habit aggravated by evil works. Jer. 5: "They are become like horses mad for females and stallions." And therefore the Philosopher says that a wicked man is worse than a wicked beast, because together with his malice he has an intellect to devise various evils.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

He uses “this” as a demonstrative, meaning, Such behavior is responsible for their troubles, and their heedless enjoyment of God’s good things inevitably brings down on them God’s punishment.… Even when those forebears who were in receipt of riches suffer retribution and just punishment from God, people after them do not come to their senses; on the contrary, they are pleased with the words and actions of the others and hasten to imitate them, acting in similar fashion regarding wealth and the good things of this life, giving too little heed to virtue to be brought around by the punishment of their predecessors.

Commentary on Psalms 49:14A-B

"This their own way is an offense to them" [Psalm 49:13]. Be it an offense to them, not to you. But when will it be so to you too? If you think such men to be blessed. If you perceive that they be not blessed, their own way will be an offense to themselves; not to Christ, not to His Body, not to His members. "And afterwards they shall bless with their mouth." What means, "Afterwards they shall bless with their mouth"? Though they have become such, that they seek nothing but temporal goods, yet they become hypocrites: and when they bless God, with lips they bless, and not with heart. Christians like these, when to them eternal life is commended, and they are told, that in the name of Christ they ought to be despisers of riches, do make grimaces in their hearts: and if they dare not do it with open face, lest they blush, or lest they should be rebuked by men, yet they do it in heart, and scorn; and there remains in their mouth blessing, and in their heart cursing.

The Second Part.

Exposition on Psalm 49

Those boast of the abundance of their riches who love their riches in such a way that they place their ultimate happiness in them. They trust in their own strength who scorn riches in such a way that they attribute this contempt to their own strength. Both types are proud; the former, because they trust in their wealth, not in God; the latter, because they wish to attribute the fact that they spurn riches to themselves, not to God; the former, because they love badly that which cannot be loved well; the latter because they do not spurn well that which can be spurned well; and for this reason, the former do evil badly, the latter do good badly.

Letter 6:7

"This is their way." Here he shows what follows from this evil that they have incurred, namely that they have become bestial; for someone could say that no evil follows from it. But it is not so. Rather, something else follows. And first he shows what follows with respect to them. Second, with respect to others. With respect to them he says, "This way," namely of following passions, "is a scandal to them," because they are interiorly disturbed. Ps. 68: "Let their table before them become a stumbling block." Likewise, they are also exteriorly disturbed, because they are punished and defamed. The Philosopher says: "The wicked are filled with repentance." With respect to others it follows that "afterwards they shall please with their mouth." And this is explained in two ways. In one way thus: after they are interiorly scandalized and do evil, they wish that others would follow them. And therefore they strive to please others, so as to draw them to sin. Prov. 1: "If sinners entice you," etc. In another way, it reproves simulation: as if to say, after they are already thus disturbed and follow evil, "they shall please with their mouth," that is, they strive to speak holy and smooth words. Mt. 23: "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who are like whitewashed sepulchres," etc., up to "and iniquity." The Gloss: "Those who simulate are worse than the openly wicked." But is this true? It seems not. Is. 3: "They have proclaimed their sin like Sodom." Jerome's Gloss: "A second plank of salvation is to sin in secret." It must be said that it is one thing not to publicize a sin, and another thing to simulate innocence; for to publicize sin is evil because it scandalizes others; but to simulate innocence in order to draw others to sin is a greater evil. And it is of these that he speaks here. Another reading has, "And with their mouth they shall bless God." And it is explained thus: although they are interiorly beasts, yet with their lips they outwardly bless God. Is. 29: "This people honors me with their lips," etc. Or, differently: they shall bless God for the evil things they have done. Jerome has, "After them their justices shall run"; as if to say: he did not understand, and was made like beasts, and from this they are scandalized, and so it happens because they wished to be beasts. Therefore, "after them," that is, in the end, they shall be devoured by beasts, that is, by demons; as if to say: they shall run after the demons in Hell.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

The manner in which they will be cut down, in which they will perish suddenly and betake themselves to hell with ease, with facility, unexpectedly, effortlessly, is the manner in which sheep are cut down. This is death, or, rather, their fate is much worse than death: after such an end undying death will take possession of them, and thus it will not be into Abraham’s bosom they will be seen to repair nor to any place other than hell, the name for retribution, for punishment, for utter destruction. Their end here is vile and despicable, and their sojourn there nothing but punishment. This is the way we, too, customarily speak of those easily lost: Led like sheep to the slaughter. After all, since they lived like brutes, they also die like brutes, with no optimism for the future—and not only that, but that they have come to a bad end … completely under the control of ruin.

Commentary on the Psalms 49:9

"Like sheep laid in hell, death is their shepherd" [Psalm 49:14]. Whose? Of those whose way is a stumbling-block to themselves. Whose? Of those who mind only things present, while they think not of things future: of those who think not of any life, but of that which must be called death. Not without cause, then, like sheep in hell, have they death to their shepherd. What means, "they have death to their shepherd"? For is death either some thing or some power? Yea, death is either the separation of the soul from the body, or a separation of the soul from God, and that indeed which men fear is the separation of the soul from the body: but the real death, which men do not fear, is the separation of the soul from God. And ofttimes when men fear that which does separate the soul from the body, they fall into that wherein the soul is separated from God. This then is death. But how is "death their shepherd"? If Christ is life, the devil is death. But we read in many places in Scripture, how that Christ is life. But the devil is death, not because he is himself death, but because through him is death. For whether that (death) wherein Adam fell was given man to drink by the persuasion of him: or whether that wherein the soul is separated from the body, still they have him for the author thereof, who first falling through pride envied him who stood, and overthrew him who stood with an invisible death, in order that he might have to pay the visible death. They who belong to him have death to their shepherd: but we who think of future immortality, and not without reason do wear the sign of the Cross of Christ on the forehead, have no shepherd but life. Of unbelievers death is the shepherd, of believers life is the shepherd. If then in hell are the sheep, whose shepherd is death, in heaven are the sheep, whose shepherd is life. What then? Are we now in heaven? In heaven we are by faith. For if not in heaven, where is the "Lift up your heart"? If not in heaven, whence with the Apostle Paul, "For our conversation is in heaven"? [Philippians 3:20] In body we walk on earth, in heart we dwell in heaven. We dwell there, if there we send anything which holds us there. For no one dwells in heart, save where thought is: but there his thought is, where his treasure is. He has treasured on earth, his heart does not withdraw from earth: he has treasured in heaven, his heart from heaven does not come down: for the Lord says plainly, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." [Matthew 6:12]

Exposition on Psalm 49

They will be withdrawn from the comely glory of their nature, and their bodies will become a desolate place. Recollect at all times that lamentable sight of corruption, that formless dispersion of your senses, that ruin of the edifice of your body, and how your wholesome constitution will become mud in Sheol. Blessed is the man who greets the recollection of this destruction with joy! Blessed is he who with good hope awaits that deed so replete with mystery wherein is concealed the wonder of the Creator’s power!

Ascetical Homilies 64

"Like sheep." Here he sets forth the evils that will befall sinners after this life. And because he has already spoken of three evils -- namely, that they are like beasts, that they despise wisdom, and the third is that they trust in their own strength -- against the first he says: because these are like beasts, it is fitting that they be punished like beasts. Hence he says, "Like sheep they are placed in Hell." Sheep have no help from nature to defend themselves, and therefore they are exposed to slaughter. Ps. 43: "We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter." Because, therefore, the wicked in Hell are wholly exposed to punishments, they are like sheep. Jer. 12: "Gather them together like a flock for the slaughter." Likewise, sheep are shorn, and once shorn, they are killed; so the wicked are first shorn of their wool, and deprived or stripped of exterior goods, and afterwards killed in Hell. "Death shall feed upon them." Rev. 21: "Their portion is sulfur." Here, "Death shall feed upon them"; and he says "feed upon," because although death inflicts punishment, yet it does not totally remove them, but always preserves them for further punishment. Or "death," that is, the Devil -- Rev. 6: "His name is Death" -- "shall feed upon them," that is, shall lead them from pasture to pasture, that is, from punishments to punishments. Job 24: "From the waters of snow he shall pass to excessive heat." Another reading has, "Death shall be their shepherd." And he speaks thus: in this life they are like sheep destined for Hell, and the Devil is their shepherd. "And they shall have dominion." This is against what he said above, that the wise seem to die together with the foolish. Here he says that the just shall have dominion over them, namely over the wicked. Or the wise, who are called just, in the morning, that is, on the day of judgment, when they shall receive judiciary power. Mal. 4: "You shall trample the wicked when they are ashes under the soles of your feet." "And their help." This is what he said above: "and in the multitude of their riches," etc. As if to say: their help, which came from their friends and their riches, "shall grow old," that is, shall perish in Hell. Is. 10: "To whose help shall you flee?" Job 6: "Behold, there is no help for me in myself." "From their glory," that is, in proportion to their glory. Rev. 18: "As much as she glorified herself, so much," etc.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

Now we walk through faith, not through sight, but then face to face. With the soul ransomed, the body too will share the good things.

Commentary on the Psalms 49:10

God is able to pluck one from the midst of death even if it seems already to have taken hold (the phrase “from the hand of hades” meaning, Even if it has one in its grasp, it is possible and very easy for God to snatch one away).

Commentary on Psalms 49:16

"Nevertheless, God shall redeem my soul" [Psalm 49:15]. Behold the voice of one hoping in the future: "Nevertheless, God shall redeem my soul." Perhaps it is the voice of one still wishing to be relieved from oppression. Some one is in prison, he says, "God shall redeem my soul:" some one is in bond, "God shall redeem my soul:" some one is suffering peril by sea, is being tossed by waves and raging tempests, what says he? "God shall redeem my soul." They would be delivered for the sake of this life. Not such is the voice of this man. Hear what follows: "God shall redeem my soul from the hand of hell, when He shall have received me." He is speaking of this redemption, which Christ now shows in Himself. For He has descended into hell, and has ascended into heaven. What we have seen in the Head we have found in the Body. For what we have believed in the Head, they that have seen, have themselves told us, and by themselves we have seen: "For we are" all "one body." [Romans 12:5] But are they better that hear, we worse to whom it has been told? Not so says The Life Itself, Our Shepherd Himself. For He rebukes a certain disciple of His, doubting and desiring to handle His scars, and when he had handled the scars and had cried out, saying, "My Lord and my God," [John 20:28] seeing His disciple doubting, and looking to the whole world about to believe, "Because you have seen Me," He says, "you have believed: blessed are they that see not, and believe." "But God shall redeem my soul from the land of hell, when He has received me." Here then what? Labour, oppression, tribulation, temptation: expect nothing else. Where joy? In future hope....

Exposition on Psalm 49

"Nevertheless, he shall redeem my soul"; as if to say: the wicked have those things; but I shall be freed from them. And by what? Through the shedding of the blood of Christ. "He shall redeem from the hand of Hell," that is, from the hand of the Devil, under whom men were before the coming of Christ. Hos. 13: "From death I will redeem them." "When he shall receive me," that is, when he shall receive my soul. Heb. 2: "Nowhere does he take hold of Angels, but of the seed of Abraham."

Exposition on the Psalms of David

When you see the unjust becoming rich and the just poor, do not fear for yourself; do not be dismayed in mind, as if the providence of God is nowhere looking on human affairs, or perhaps, somewhere there is a divine watchfulness, but it does not reach to places near the earth, so as to watch over our affairs; for, if there were a providence, it would be apportioning to each person what is proper to him, so that the just, who understand how to use wealth, would be rich, but the wicked, who have wealth as the instrument of their wickedness, would be poor.… Now, since there are many who have such notions and who, because of the apparent inconsistency of the distribution of the fortunes of life, assume that the world is not the work of providence, the Scripture addresses these to calm their uninstructed emotion.… Do not be faint about present affairs, but await that blessed and everlasting life. Then you will see that poverty and contempt and the lack of luxuries befall the just person for his good. And do not be troubled now about imagined good things, as though they were unjustly divided. You will hear how it will be said to a certain rich man, “You in your lifetime have received good things,” but to the poor person that he receives evils in his life. As a consequence, therefore, the latter is consoled, but the former suffers pain.

Homilies on the Psalms 19:10 (ps 49)

...Perchance your heart says, Wretch that I am, I suppose to no purpose I have believed, God does not regard things human. God therefore does awaken us: and He says what? "Fear not, though a man have become rich" [Psalm 49:16]. For why did you fear, because a man has become rich? You feared that you had believed to no purpose, that perchance you should have lost the labour for your faith, and the hope of your conversion: because perchance there has come in your way gain with guilt, and you could have been rich, if you had seized upon that same gain with the guilt, and needed not have laboured; and you, remembering what God has threatened, have refrained from guilt, and have contemned the gain: you see another man that has made gain by guilt, and has suffered no harm; and you fear to be good. "Fear not," says the Spirit of God to you, "though a man shall have become rich." Would you not have eyes but for things present? Things future He has promised, who has risen again; peace in this world, and repose in this life, He has not promised. Every man does seek repose; a good thing he is seeking, but not in the proper region thereof he is seeking it. There is no peace in this life; in Heaven has been promised that which on earth we are seeking: in the world to come has been promised that which in this world we are seeking.

Exposition on Psalm 49

After this he provides explanation and advice for those condemned to a life of poverty and worn out through the arrogance of the rich.… Do not consider present prosperity any great thing, he is saying: wealth that catches all eyes is not lasting; those who raise their eyebrows and are puffed up at it will shortly after leave it all behind and be dispatched to death.

Commentary on the Psalms 49:11

"Do not fear." Above, the Psalmist showed what is to be feared in the world by man; here he shows what is not to be feared, namely the prosperity of the wicked. And first he admonishes that we should not fear on account of the prosperity of the wicked; second, he assigns the reason, at "For when he shall die." The prosperity of the wicked has two things: namely, abundance of riches and sublimity of glory. With respect to the first he says, "Do not fear when a man is made rich." With respect to the second, "and when the glory of his house is multiplied." And he says "man." Man consists of a twofold nature: namely, animal and rational. And sometimes it is taken for the one, sometimes for the other. Here it is taken for animality; as if to say: if an animal man is made rich -- for such men are often enriched. Job 21: "Why do the wicked live, are they exalted, and strengthened with riches?" Likewise, Job 12: "The dwellings of robbers abound." If you see these things, do not fear. There can be a twofold cause of fear. One, lest they rage against men; the other, lest the good be scandalized by this and fail in hope, according to Ps. 72: "My feet were almost moved (...). And I said: Therefore, without cause have I justified my heart"; as if to say: since God bestows so many goods upon the wicked, it seems that he does not care about us, according to Mal. 3: "He is vain who serves God, and what profit have we that we have kept his commandments?" With respect to the second he says, "and when the glory of his house is multiplied." Sir. 9: "Do not envy the glory and the work of a sinner." Ps. 36: "I saw the wicked," etc.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

Even if rich in this life, he will not for this reason prove to be blessed after death as well. On the contrary, then, he will leave it all behind and thus present himself naked at the judge’s tribunal.

Commentary on Psalm 49

Do not be troubled when you hear that the glory of someone’s house has increased. Think deeply about it, and you will see that a house is empty if it is not filled with faith.… Adam, by his ruin, left us void and empty, but Christ’s grace has filled the void. Christ emptied himself so that the fullness of virtue might live in human flesh.

Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms, On Psalm 49

He did not say, note, “when their glory is increased,” but “the glory of their house.” All these things that I enumerated, after all—fountains, walkways and baths, gold and silver, horses and mules, carpets and clothes—are the glory of the house, not of the person living in the house. A person’s glory, in fact, is virtue, which takes the journey from here with its possessor. A house’s glory, by contrast, itself remains here, or rather, far even from remaining, it disappears along with the house, doing no good to the one who lived in it. It did not belong to him, after all.

Commentary on the Psalms 49:11

"Fear not, though a man be made rich, and though the glory of his house be multiplied." Wherefore "fear not"? "For when he shall die, he shall not receive anything" [Psalm 49:17]. You see him living, consider him dying. You mark what he has here, mark what he takes with him. What does he take with him? He has store of gold, he has store of silver, numerous estates, slaves: he dies, these remain, he knows not for whom. For though he leaves them for whom he will, he keeps them not for whom he will. For many have gained even what was not left them, and many have lost what was left them. All these things then remain, and he takes with him what? Perhaps some one says, He takes that with him in which he is wound, and that which is expended upon him for a costly and marble tomb, to erect a monument, this he takes with him. I say, not even this. For these things are presented to him without his feeling them. If you deck a man sleeping and not awake, he has the decorations with him on the couch: perhaps the decorations are resting upon the body of him as he lies, and perhaps he sees himself in tatters during sleep. What he feels is more to him than what he feels not. Though even this when he shall have awaked will not be: yet to him sleeping, that which he saw in sleep was more than that which he felt not. Why then, brethren, should men say to themselves, Let money be spent at my death: why do I leave my heirs rich? Many things will they have of mine, let me too have something of my own for my body. What shall a dead body have? What shall rotting flesh have? What shall flesh not feeling have? If that rich man had anything, whose tongue was dry, then man has something of his own. My brethren, do we read in the Gospel, that this rich man appeared in the fire with all-silken and fine-linen coverings? Was he of such sort in hell as he was in feastings at table? When he thirsted and desired a drop, all those things were not there. Therefore man carries not with him anything, nor does the dead take with him that which the burial takes. For where feeling is, there is the man; where is no feeling, the man is not. There lies fallen the vessel which contained the man, the house which held the man. The body let us call the house, the spirit let us call the inhabitant of the house. The spirit is tormented in hell: what does it profit him, that the body lies in spices and perfumes, wound in costly linens? just as if the master of the house should be sent into banishment, and you should garnish the walls of his house. He in banishment is in need, and does faint with hunger, he scarce finds to himself one hovel where he may snatch a sleep, and you say, "Happy is he, for his house has been garnished." Who would not judge that you were either jesting or wast mad? You garnish the body; the spirit is tormented. Give something to the spirit, and you have given something to the dead man. But what will you give him, when he desired one drop, and received not? For the man scorned to send before him anything. Wherefore scorned? "because this their way is a stumbling-block to them." He minded not any but the present life, he thought not but how he might be buried, wound in costly vestments. His soul was taken from him, as the Lord says: "You fool, this night your soul shall be taken from you, and whose shall those things be which you have provided?" [Luke 12:20] And that is fulfilled which this Psalm says: "Fear not, though a man be made rich, and though the glory of his house be multiplied: for when he shall die he shall not receive anything, nor shall his glory descend together with him."

Exposition on Psalm 49

"For when he shall die." Here the reason is assigned why the wicked are not to be feared if they become rich. First, because at some point they shall be deprived of all exterior goods; second, they shall also fail in all interior goods. The second is at "For his soul." Therefore he says, they are not to be feared, because God reserves greater things for you. But these things that are given to them are transitory. And he shows, first, that riches pass away, saying, "For when he shall die," namely the rich man, "he shall not take all things," that is, he shall be able to have nothing of all the things he had. Job 27: "When the rich man shall sleep, he shall take nothing with him." 1 Tim. 6: "We brought nothing into this world, and doubtless we can take nothing out." Second, he shows the failure of the glory of the sinful man: "Nor shall his glory descend with him," because then his glory ends with his flesh, and ignominy is reserved for him in Hell. Hos. 4: "I will change their glory into shame." Rev. 18: "She glorified herself," etc.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

Since, you see, this is a particular object of interest for the rich—flattery in the marketplace, attention from the populace, public commendation, tributes teeming with hypocrisy, cutting a fine figure at spectacles, applauded at banquets and in the courts, being on everybody’s lips, thought to be conscientious—note how this in turn he prunes away in time. “In their lifetime,” he says, note; that is, this publicity and being spoken well of lasts for this life, but it disappears along with everything else, being impermanent and perishable. Even when it comes from a display put on by the flatterers, after his death it is reversed when the mask of fear is stripped away.

Commentary on Psalms 49:11

Let your love observe: "For his soul shall be blessed in his life" [Psalm 49:18]. As long as he lived he did well for himself. This all men say, but say falsely. It is a blessing from the mind of the blesser, not from the truth itself. For what do you say? Because he ate and drank, because he did what he chose, because he feasted sumptuously, therefore he did well with himself. I say, he did ill for himself. Not I say, but Christ. He did ill for himself. For that rich man, when he feasted sumptuously every day, was supposed to do well with himself: but when he began to burn in hell, then that which was supposed to be well was found to be ill. For what he had eaten with men above, he digested in hell beneath. Unrighteousness I mean, brethren, on which he used to feast. He used to eat costly banquets with the mouth of flesh, with his heart's mouth he used to eat unrighteousness. What he ate with his heart's mouth with men above, this he digested amid those punishments in the places beneath. And verily he had eaten for a time, he digested ill for everlasting. Is then unrighteousness eaten? Perhaps some one says: what is it that he says? Unrighteousness eaten? It is not I that say: hear the Scripture: "As a sour grape is vexation to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so is unrighteousness to them that use it." [Proverbs 10:26] For he that shall have eaten unrighteousness, that is, he that shall have had unrighteousness wilfully, shall not be able to eat righteousness. For righteousness is bread. Who is bread? "I am the living bread which came down from heaven." [John 6:51] Himself is the bread of our heart....Is then even righteousness eaten? If it were not eaten, the Lord would not have said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness." [Matthew 5:6] Therefore "since his soul shall be blessed in life," in life it "shall" be blessed, in death it shall be tormented....

Exposition on Psalm 49

"For his soul in his lifetime shall be blessed; he will praise you when you do well for him." Here he sets forth, first, the failure of interior goods pertaining to the body; second, pertaining to the soul, at "And he shall enter." First, therefore, he shows that after this life the good of the body fails them; second, he shows that the good of virtue, if they had any, comes to an end. He says, therefore, "For his soul." Just as "man" is sometimes taken for the animal nature, sometimes for the rational, so "soul" is taken in two ways. Sometimes for the rational life, as in Dt. 6: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul." Sometimes for the animal life. Lk. 12: "My soul, you have many goods," etc. He says, therefore, according to this: "For his soul," that is, his animal life, "in his lifetime shall be blessed"; as if to say: whatever he has of riches and glory, all of it is in this life; and when this life ceases, his glory fails. And therefore he cannot bless his life except while he lives. Likewise, sinners sometimes praise God, or do works that are generically good; but if adversity threatens, their praise or good work ceases. And therefore he turns to God saying: O God, this one, namely the sinner, or someone existing in prosperity, "shall praise you when you do well for him," that is, when you give him the temporal goods that he loves. Prov. 10: "The blessing of the Lord makes rich." Jerome: "They will praise you when it is well with them," that is, men praise and serve the rich as long as they are supplied and prosper in riches; but if fortune changes, they change -- not only do they not praise, but they detract from them.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

"He shall enter even unto the generations of his fathers" [Psalm 49:19]: that is, he shall imitate his fathers. For the unrighteous, that now are, have brothers, have fathers. Unrighteous men of old, are the fathers of the present; and they that are now unrighteous, are the fathers of unrighteous posterity: just as the fathers of the righteous, the righteous of old, are the fathers of the righteous that now are; and they that now are, are the fathers of them that are to be. The Holy Spirit has willed to show that righteousness is not evil when men murmur against her: but these men have their father from the beginning, even to the generation of their fathers. Two men Adam begot, and in one was unrighteousness, in one was righteousness: unrighteousness in Cain, righteousness in Abel. [1 John 3:12] Unrighteousness seemed to prevail over righteousness, because Cain unrighteous slew Abel righteous [Genesis 4:8] in the night. Is it so in the morning? Nay, "but the righteous shall reign over them in the morning." The morning shall come, and it shall be seen where Abel is, and where Cain. So all men who are after Cain, and so all who are after Abel, even unto the end of the world. "He shall enter even unto the generations of his fathers: even to eternity he shall not see light." Because even when he was here, he was in darkness, taking pleasure in false goods, and not loving real goods: even so he shall go hence into hell: from the darkness of his dreams the darkness of torments shall receive him. Therefore, "even to eternity he shall not see light."

Exposition on Psalm 49

"He shall enter." Here he sets forth the failure of spiritual goods. And first he shows the failure; second, he sets forth the order of arriving at this failure, at "Man." And first he sets forth the failure of guilt; second, of punishment. With respect to the first he says, "He shall enter," namely this sinner, so rich and whom all praise while it is well with him -- he shall enter, I say, "even to the generation of his fathers," namely by imitation, since he performs all the evils that his entire lineage committed. Mt. 23: "And you, fill up the measure of your fathers." Jer. 11: "They have returned to the iniquities of their earlier fathers." Or, "he shall enter," etc., because his fathers are wicked and are in Hell, and he shall go there. With respect to the second he says, "And even to eternity he shall not see the light." Because since here in his eternity, namely in his life, he did not wish to follow the light of reason, therefore he shall not see the light for eternity. Job 15: "He does not believe that he can return from darkness to light." Mt. 25: "Cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness," etc. And in what order? Because when he was endowed with the light of reason, as a man placed in honor, he did not wish to be ruled by that light; he was made like senseless beasts, and therefore, since he acts like the beasts, he must be consigned to slaughter.

Exposition on the Psalms of David

It seems quite clear that in most parts of the Old Testament there is little or no belief in a future life; certainly no belief that is of any religious importance. The word translated 'soul' in our version of the Psalms means simply 'life'; the word translated 'hell' means simply 'the land of the dead', the state of all the dead, good and bad alike, Sheol. [...] In many passages this is quite clear, even in our translation, to every attentive reader. The clearest of all is the cry in 89:46: 'O remember how short my time is: why hast thou made all men for nought?' We all come to nothing in the end. Therefore 'every man living is altogether vanity' (39:6). Wise and foolish have the same fate (49:10). Once dead, a man worships God no more; 'Shall the dust give thanks unto thee?' (30:10); 'for in death no man remembereth thee' (6:5). Death is 'the land' where, not only worldly things, but all things, 'are forgotten' (88:12). When a man dies 'all his thoughts perish' (146:3). Every man will 'follow the generation of his fathers, and shall never see light' (49:19): he goes into a darkness which will never end.

Reflections on the Psalms, Chapter 4: Death in the Psalms

But wherefore this? What he has written in the middle of the Psalm, the same also he has writ at the end: "Man, though he was in honour, understood not, was compared to the beasts without sense, and was made like to them" [Psalm 49:20]. But you, brethren, consider that you be men made after the image and likeness of God. The image [Genesis 1:26] of God is within, is not in the body; is not in these ears which you see, and eyes, and nostrils, and palate, and hands, and feet; but is made nevertheless: wherein is the intellect, wherein is the mind, wherein the power of discovering truth, wherein is faith, wherein is your hope, wherein your charity, there God has His Image: there at least ye perceive and see that these things pass away; for so he has said in another Psalm, "Though man walks in an image, yet he is disquieted in vain: he heaps up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them." Be not disquieted, for of whatsoever kind these things be, they are transitory, if you are men who being in honour understand. For if being men in honour ye understand not, you are compared to the beasts without sense, and are made like to them.

Exposition on Psalm 49

The beasts that perish are more hygienic than man, and man is only above them because he is more conventional.

Christmas (All Things Considered)

It is not natural to see man as a natural product. It is not common sense to call man a common object of the country or the seashore. It is not seeing straight to see him as an animal. It is not sane. It sins against the light; against that broad daylight of proportion which is the principle of all reality.

The Everlasting Man, Chapter I: The Man in the Cave (1925)