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[a]For no one can ever redeem himself
    or pay a ransom to God for his release.
The price to ransom a life would be too costly;
    no one would ever have enough
10 to enable him to live on forever
    and avoid being consigned to the pit.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 49:8 Wealth is useless to evade death; only God has the power to bring it about (see v. 16; 116:15; Job 33:24-26; Prov 11:4; Ezek 7:19; Mt 16:26; Rom 3:24). A wealthy person may live lavishly and give the impression that he will live forever. However, he too must at some point face death—which is a separation from the land of the living, from all life’s comforts, and from social and economic advantages. Pit: a synonym for the netherworld (see Ps 16:10) that signifies death and perhaps retribution for evil done during life (see Ps 94:13).

the ransom(A) for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough—(B)
so that they should live on(C) forever
    and not see decay.(D)
10 For all can see that the wise die,(E)
    that the foolish and the senseless(F) also perish,
    leaving their wealth(G) to others.(H)

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