Psalm 49:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases.

NIV: Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;

NASB: Do not be afraid when a person becomes rich, When the splendor of his house is increased;

CSB: Do not be afraid when a person gets rich, when the wealth of his house increases.

NLT: So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid.

KJV: Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

NKJV: Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased;

It's natural to become discouraged, jealous, or even fearful when godless people seem to prosper (Psalm 73:2–3). One solution to that angst is remembering that wealth does not buy favor with God (Psalm 49:10–13). Even if the world applauds the wicked person, that won't save them. This message is valuable to all people, regardless of wealth (Psalm 49:1–2). The rich should be warned not to see their money as a sign of God's moral approval.

In the Old Testament era, the wealthy were especially prone to abuse the poor. Such mistreatment also occurred in New Testament times, and it still occurs throughout the world today. The apostle James alludes to rich farmers who took advantage of their laborers. They kept back the laborers' wages by fraud, while they lived in luxury and in self-indulgence. James even accuses them of condemning and murdering the righteous person (James 5:1–6).

Jesus told His followers not to fear what wicked, influential men may do. He said, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). Believers should neither fear nor envy the wicked rich. God has promised to meet all their needs (Matthew 6:25–34; Philippians 4:19). First Peter 2:1 lists envy along with malice, deceit, hypocrisy, and slander as vices to be put away.

Psalm 49:13–20 further explains what happens to wicked people who trust in money rather than in God. Sheol—death and the grave—is their destiny. Righteous people should not be jealous of them or fear them. The rich leave everything behind when they die, no different than a poor person. For a second time, the writer compares physical death to that of animals.

The "riddle" in question is the fact that some rich persons are also wicked and ungodly. Rich and poor, alike, should remember that money is temporary. It is not a substitute for God's approval. All people face death and God's judgment. There is no reason to envy a person who has earthly wealth but lacks eternal hope.

As did Psalm 73, this passage tackles the riddle of how to respond to prosperity among those who reject God. Just as did Asaph (Psalm 73:15–19), the psalmist concludes that the prosperous wicked face a hopeless end. The righteous have an endless hope. This psalm is rightfully regarded as a wisdom psalm. Several themes, such as the temporary nature of wealth, are echoed in the book of Proverbs.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.