Verse 11
For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.
Referenced Verses
- Isa 40:7-8 : 7 The grass dries up, the flowers wither, when the wind sent by the LORD blows on them. Surely humanity is like grass. 8 The grass dries up, the flowers wither, but the decree of our God is forever reliable.”
- Ps 102:4 : 4 My heart is parched and withered like grass, for I am unable to eat food.
- Ps 102:11 : 11 My days are coming to an end, and I am withered like grass.
- Eccl 5:15 : 15 Just as he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked will he return as he came, and he will take nothing in his hand that he may carry away from his toil.
- 1 Pet 1:4 : 4 that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you,
- 1 Pet 5:4 : 4 Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.
- Isa 28:1 : 1 The Lord Will Judge Samaria The splendid crown of Ephraim’s drunkards is doomed, the withering flower, its beautiful splendor, situated at the head of a rich valley, the crown of those overcome with wine.
- Isa 28:4 : 4 The withering flower, its beautiful splendor, situated at the head of a rich valley, will be like an early fig before harvest– as soon as someone notices it, he grabs it and swallows it.
- Job 21:24-30 : 24 his body well nourished, and the marrow of his bones moist. 25 And another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted anything good. 26 Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover over them both. 27 Futile Words, Deceptive Answers“Yes, I know what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me. 28 For you say,‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, and where are the tents in which the wicked lived?’ 29 Have you never questioned those who travel the roads? Do you not recognize their accounts– 30 that the evil man is spared from the day of his misfortune, that he is delivered from the day of God’s wrath?
- Ps 37:35-36 : 35 I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil. 36 But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found.
- Ps 49:6-9 : 6 They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches. 7 Certainly a man cannot rescue his brother; he cannot pay God an adequate ransom price 8 (the ransom price for a human life is too high, and people go to their final destiny), 9 so that he might continue to live forever and not experience death. 10 Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves, 12 but, despite their wealth, people do not last, they are like animals that perish. 13 This is the destiny of fools, and of those who approve of their philosophy.(Selah) 14 They will travel to Sheol like sheep, with death as their shepherd. The godly will rule over them when the day of vindication dawns; Sheol will consume their bodies and they will no longer live in impressive houses.
- Ps 73:18-20 : 18 Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin. 19 How desolate they become in a mere moment! Terrifying judgments make their demise complete! 20 They are like a dream after one wakes up. O Lord, when you awake you will despise them.
- Isa 49:10 : 10 They will not be hungry or thirsty; the sun’s oppressive heat will not beat down on them, for one who has compassion on them will guide them; he will lead them to springs of water.
- Jonah 4:7-8 : 7 So God sent a worm at dawn the next day, and it attacked the little plant so that it dried up. 8 When the sun began to shine, God sent a hot east wind. So the sun beat down on Jonah’s head, and he grew faint. So he despaired of life, and said,“I would rather die than live!”
- Matt 13:6 : 6 But when the sun came up, they were scorched, and because they did not have sufficient root, they withered.
- Mark 4:6 : 6 When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered.
- Luke 12:16-21 : 16 He then told them a parable:“The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, 17 so he thought to himself,‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said,‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to myself,“You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ 20 But God said to him,‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.”
- Luke 16:19-25 : 19 The Rich Man and Lazarus“There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 But at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus whose body was covered with sores, 21 who longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. In addition, the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “Now the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And in Hades, as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. 24 So he called out,‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in this fire.’ 25 But Abraham said,‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish.
- 1 Cor 7:31 : 31 those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape of this world is passing away.
- Jas 5:1-7 : 1 Warning to the Rich Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure! 4 Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, although he does not resist you. 7 Patience in Suffering So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains.