Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Psalm 49 with Theodoret of Cyrus – The Folly of Earthly Riches

Why should I fear when evil days come? (v. 5). I fear and dread the day of judgment, on which the righteous Judge will repay everyone according to their works (2 Tim 4:8). Now, aware of this, keep fear before your eyes regarding your own behavior. But if you were to ask why I am afraid, listen closely: it is an evil day, about which countless speeches 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. Those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches (v. 6): while I tremble in fear at the expected day, you in your affluence pay no attention to it, being instead puffed up with luxury of your possessions and trusting in temporary things as though permanent. The foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others. Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations (v. 11), robbed not only of wisdom but also of influence and all wealth, they will meet their end, removed from their lavish homes to graves, and forced to occupy them forever. 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 be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them (vv. 16–17). 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 over it will soon leave it all behind and die, though while they live they count themselves blessed (v. 18). Some people declare the one with abundant wealth blessed while alive, but once dead they call him three times more miserable.