New International Version
Psalms 49:16
16Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;
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;
- 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;
- New Living Translation (NLT)So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid.
Context of Psalms 49:16
14They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. 15But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself. Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; 17for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. 18Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—
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 fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—
- Psalms 37:1Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
- Esther 3:1After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles.
- Proverbs 28:12When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.
- Genesis 31:1Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.”
- Esther 5:11Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials.
- Revelation 21:24The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor 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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