God’s Word Translation
Psalms 49:18
18Even though he blesses himself while he is alive (and they praise you when you do well for yourself),
Psalms 49:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
- New International Version (NIV)Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—
- English Standard Version (ESV)For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
- New King James Version (NKJV)Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
Context of Psalms 49:18
16Do not be afraid when someone becomes rich, when the greatness of his house increases. 17He will not take anything with him when he dies. His greatness cannot follow him. Even though he blesses himself while he is alive (and they praise you when you do well for yourself), 19he must join the generation of his ancestors, who will never see light ⌞again⌟. 20Mortals, with what they treasure, still don’t have understanding. They are like animals that die.
Read all of Psalms 49Psalms 49:18 word by word
כִּֽי־נַ֭פְשׁוֹ בְּחַיָּ֣יו יְבָרֵ֑ךְ וְ֝יוֹדֻ֗ךָ כִּי־תֵיטִ֥יב לָֽךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 49:18
- Deuteronomy 29:19Someone may hear the conditions of this promise. He may think that he is so blessed that he can say, “I’ll be safe even if I go my own stubborn way. After all, ⌞the Lord would never⌟ sweep away well-watered ground along with dry ground.”
- Hosea 12:8The people of Ephraim say, ‘We’re rich. We’ve made a fortune. With all this wealth, no one will find us guilty of any sin.’
- Luke 12:19Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up a lot of good things for years to come. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’
- 1 Samuel 25:6Say to him, ‘May you live ⌞long⌟! May you, your home, and all you have prosper!
- Esther 3:2All the king’s advisers were at the king’s gate, kneeling and bowing to Haman with their faces touching the ground, because the king had commanded it. But Mordecai would not kneel and bow to him.
- Acts 12:20Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They were going to meet with Herod. They had agreed on what they wanted to do: They enlisted the help of Blastus to ask Herod for terms of peace. This was because their cities depended on Herod for their food supply. (Blastus was in charge of the king’s living quarters.)
- Revelation 13:3One of the beast’s heads looked like it had a fatal wound, but its fatal wound was healed. All the people of the world were amazed and followed the beast.
Commentaries on Psalms 49:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18He blessed his soul - He did all he could to procure himself animal gratifications, and he was applauded for it; for it is the custom of the world to praise them who pay most attention to their secular interest; and he who attends most to the concerns of his soul is deemed weak and foolish, and is often persecuted by an ungodly world.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Though while he lived - Margin, as in Hebrew, “in his life.” More literally, “in his lives.” The idea is, as long as he lived. He blessed his soul - That is, he blessed himself; he congratulated himself; he regarded his condition as desirable and enviable. He “took airs” upon himself; he felt that his was a happy lot; he expected and demanded respect and honor from others on account of his wealth. He commended himself as having evinced sagacity in the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-20Verses 15-20 Believers should not fear death. The distinction of men's outward conditions, how great soever in life, makes none at death; but the difference of men's spiritual states, though in this life it may seem of small account, yet at and after death is very great. The soul is often put for the life. The God of life, who was its Creator at first, can and will be its Redeemer at last. It includes the salvation of the soul from eternal ruin. Believers…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-20The wicked might have rich, luxurious lives, but they forget that they cannot avoid death.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1916-19. applies this instruction. Be not anxious (Psa 37:1, &c.), since death cuts off the prosperous wicked whom you dread.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 49:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 49
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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