The Psalmist begins Psalm 49 seeking the inspiration of the heart to teach with the science of wisdom, because in the Psalm the author of the book is going to explain how illusory the vanity of man is. Psalm 49 follows the teachings of the wise King Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes, men constantly strive to acquire wealth and go out of their way for it, losing even sleep and health, but in front of this, in the end, there is no distinction between rich and poor, all men are equal before death and we can take nothing with us to the afterlife, in the same way that we come into the world, we also leave, riches do not ensure immortality:
"No one can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for them—
the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough—
so that they should live on forever
and not see decay" Psalm 49:7-9.
The Psalm contains like the book of Ecclesiastes a superficial pessimism, because the wisdom of God does not deliver us from death. What is ultimately the life of man compared to the eternity of the universe and of God? The Bible also adds: "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing" Ecclesiastes 9:5.
The pride that riches give to us is fleeting, illusory, and vain and in the face of the difficulties that the world provides us, the same end awaits everyone, regardless of how they have lived, whether they are wise or foolish:
"For all can see that the wise die,
that the foolish and the senseless also perish,
leaving their wealth to others.
Their tombs will remain their houses forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they had named lands after themselves" Psalm 49:10-11.
But the Psalm also tells us that those who live righteously can expect retribution in the afterlife, the good that we do for others accompanies us in the next life, spiritual goods are not lost, the Abyss is for those who have sinned and have forgotten God: "But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself" Psalm 49:15.