Abide is the same word used in 25.13, literally “to spend the night”; a literal translation (such as Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, “A man, with all his prestige, doesn’t last through the night”) is liable to be misunderstood. Instead of the Masoretic text “abides,” Bible de Jérusalem, New Jerusalem Bible, and Bible en français courant prefer to follow the Septuagint and Syriac, “understand”: “However, in the midst of his wealth, the man does not understand that he is going to his death….”

The word translated pomp is literally honor, splendor, and may refer specifically here to wealth (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible; Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “greatness and wealth”). In some languages it will be necessary to shift line a into a reason and result clause; for example, “just because a man is great (or, rich) that will not prevent him from dying.”

The idea expressed in line b is the same that is voiced in Ecclesiastes 3.18-21 and should be faithfully and clearly represented in translation.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .