Psalm 39:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

A vain shew

James 4:14

Surely

He heapeth

General references

Matthew 6:19

Bible References

A vain shew

Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air].

Surely

I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a futile grasping and chasing after the wind.

So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun caused me only great sorrow; because all is futility and chasing after the wind.

Then I looked again at vanity under the sun [in one of its peculiar forms].

For there are many other words that increase futility. What then is the advantage for a man?

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity (futility).”

“Why do you spend money for that which is not bread,
And your earnings for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight in abundance.

But Martha was very busy and distracted with all of her serving responsibilities; and she approached Him and said, “Lord, is it of no concern to You that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part.”

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own all the things you have prepared?’

casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].

He heapeth

For he sees that even wise men die;
The fool and the stupid alike perish
And leave their wealth to others.

“Though he heaps up silver like dust
And piles up clothing like clay,

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for [the hands of] the righteous.

When you set your eyes on wealth, it is [suddenly] gone.
For wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies to the heavens.

For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crown endure to all generations.

Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male singers and female singers, and the delights and pleasures of men—many concubines.

For when those riches are lost in bad investments and he becomes the father of a son, then there is nothing in his hand [for the support of the child].

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own all the things you have prepared?’

Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up your treasure in the last days [when it will do you no good].

General references

and when your herds and flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have increases,

The mountains leaped like rams,
The [little] hills, like lambs.

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher.
“Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].”

So I turned aside and let my heart despair over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.

“Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.