Psalm 49:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed—and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—

NIV: Though while they live they count themselves blessed-- and people praise you when you prosper--

NASB: Though while he lives he congratulates himself— And though people praise you when you do well for yourself—

CSB: Though he blesses himself during his lifetime -- and you are acclaimed when you do well for yourself --

NLT: In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success.

KJV: Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

NKJV: Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),

A rich man may consider himself blessed because he is wealthy and praised by others. That might be true—God can use material resources to encourage His people—but earthly wealth can never last beyond earthly life (Psalm 49:10, 16–17). Praise from other people is also not wrong when it's truthful and godly (Proverbs 3:35; Romans 13:7). Yet the praise of other people is ultimately temporary; only God's approval can last for eternity.

It is important to build a life on a solid foundation, meaning the gospel recorded in the Word of God (1 Corinthians 3:10–15; 4:6). Jesus told a story about two builders, one wise and the other foolish (Matthew 7:24–27). The wise man built his house on a solid, rocky foundation. This was a stable, reliable anchor for everything else the man constructed. The fool built on sand: something weak and vulnerable. The house with good foundations survived storms, while the one with bad foundations was lost. Perhaps the foolish man's house looked prettier than the other, and received glowing comments, but it did not survive. Similarly, from all outward appearance a wicked rich man's life may look successful and receive compliments, but it will not stand when death sweeps over it.

When death, the final storm, arrives, everything that rests on a flimsy foundation will come crashing down. However, life built on God's Word will survive death, and usher the wise person into a blissful eternity with God.

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.