New English Translation
Psalms 49:16
16Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and his wealth multiplies!
Psalms 49:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
- New International Version (NIV)Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;
- English Standard Version (ESV)Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased;
Context of Psalms 49:16
14They 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. 15But God will rescue my life from the power of Sheol; certainly he will pull me to safety. (Selah) Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and his wealth multiplies! 17For he will take nothing with him when he dies; his wealth will not follow him down into the grave. 18He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive: “May men praise you, for you have done well!”
Read all of Psalms 49Psalms 49:16 word by word
אַל־תִּ֭ירָא כִּֽי־יַעֲשִׁ֣ר אִ֑ישׁ כִּֽי־יִ֝רְבֶּה כְּב֣וֹד בֵּיתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 49:16
- Psalms 49:5Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when the sinful deeds of deceptive men threaten to overwhelm me?
- Psalms 37:1Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed! Do not envy evildoers!
- Esther 3:1Some time later King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, exalting him and setting his position above that of all the officials who were with him.
- Proverbs 28:12When the righteous rejoice, great is the glory, but when the wicked rise to power, people are sought out.
- Genesis 31:1Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were complaining, “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father! He has gotten rich at our father’s expense!”
- Esther 5:11Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth, his many sons, and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the king’s other officials and servants.
- Revelation 21:24The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their grandeur into it.
Commentaries on Psalms 49:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Be not thou afraid when one is made rich - Do not be envious; do not grieve: it will do you no harm; it will do him no good. All he gets will be left behind; he can carry nothing with him. Even his glory must stay behind; he shall mingle with the common earth.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Be not thou afraid when one is made rich - Do not dread the power derived from wealth; do not fear anything which a man can do merely because he is rich. The original is, “when a “man” becomes rich.” The allusion is not necessarily to a bad man, though that is implied in the whole passage, since there is no reason for fearing a “good” man, whether he is rich or poor. The only thing that seems to have been apprehended in the mind of the psalmist was that…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 49:16
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
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