"They said it, those who were before them"—from the polytheists; meaning: this very statement. "And so that which they used to earn did not avail them"—of their wealth.
﴿قَدْ قَالَهَا الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ﴾ من الْمُشْركين؛ يَعْنِي: هَذِه الْكَلِمَة. ﴿فَمَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ﴾ من أَمْوَالهم
