Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 49:12

"But man [being] in honor abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish." — Psalms 49:12 (ASV)

Abideth not. —This verse provides the essence and thought of the poem, and also serves as its refrain, thus vindicating the claim of a lyric tone for this didactic psalm. The reading of the Septuagint and Vulgate (“without understanding” instead of “abideth not”), which brings Psalm 49:12 into exact correspondence with Psalm 49:20, should unquestionably be adopted. The current text does not truly express permanence, as the Hebrew verb means to lodge temporarily.

The next verse, too, is hardly intelligible, unless we read here—

Man, though in honour, without understanding,
Is like the beasts; they perish.