Psalm 49:18
New International Version
Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—

New Living Translation
In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success.

English Standard Version
For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed—and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—

Berean Standard Bible
Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper—

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

New King James Version
Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),

New American Standard Bible
Though while he lives he congratulates himself— And though people praise you when you do well for yourself—

NASB 1995
Though while he lives he congratulates himself— And though men praise you when you do well for yourself—

NASB 1977
Though while he lives he congratulates himself— And though men praise you when you do well for yourself—

Legacy Standard Bible
For while he lives he blesses his soul— And men will praise you when you do well for yourself—

Amplified Bible
Though while he lives he counts himself happy and prosperous— And though people praise you when you do well for yourself—

Christian Standard Bible
Though he blesses himself during his lifetime — and you are acclaimed when you do well for yourself —

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Though he praises himself during his lifetime— and people praise you when you do well for yourself—

American Standard Version
Though while he lived he blessed his soul (And men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself),

Contemporary English Version
We humans are praised when we do well, and all of us are glad to be alive.

English Revised Version
Though while he lived he blessed his soul, and men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Even though he blesses himself while he is alive (and they praise you when you do well for yourself),

Good News Translation
Even if someone is satisfied with this life and is praised because he is successful,

International Standard Version
although he considers himself blessed while he's alive. Though people praise you for doing well,

Majority Standard Bible
Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper—

NET Bible
He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive: "May men praise you, for you have done well!"

New Heart English Bible
Though while he lived he blessed his soul--and men praise you when you do well for yourself--

Webster's Bible Translation
Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

World English Bible
Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For he blesses his soul in his life "" (And they praise you when you do well for yourself).

Young's Literal Translation
For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)

Smith's Literal Translation
For in his living he will praise his soul, (and he will praise thee for thou wilt do good to thyself,)
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: and he will praise thee when thou shalt do well to him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For his soul will be blessed in his lifetime, and he will admit to you when you do good to him.

New American Bible
During his life his soul uttered blessings; “They will praise you, for you do well for yourself.”

New Revised Standard Version
Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For while he lived, he lived comfortably; he praised you when you favored him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because he blesses his soul in his life, he will acknowledge you when you bless him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Though while he lived he blessed his soul: 'Men will praise thee, when thou shalt do well to thyself';

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to thee when thou dost well to him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Evanescence of Wealth
17For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down. 18Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul— and men praise you when you prosper 19he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.…

Cross References
Luke 12:19-20
Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ / But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

James 1:10-11
But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. / For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

1 Timothy 6:17
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God. / For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment? / To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot. / Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God. / For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.

Proverbs 27:1
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

1 John 2:16-17
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Luke 16:19-31
Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. / And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores / and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. ...

Matthew 16:26
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Ecclesiastes 8:15
So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.

Job 21:13-15
They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace. / Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways. / Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’

Isaiah 22:13
But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

1 Corinthians 15:32
If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

Proverbs 11:4
Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.


Treasury of Scripture

Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise you, when you do well to yourself.

while he lived [heb.

Deuteronomy 29:19
And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:

Hosea 12:8
And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.

Luke 12:19
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

praise

1 Samuel 25:6
And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

Esther 3:2
And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

Acts 12:20-22
And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country

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Psalm 49
1. An earnest persuasion to build the faith of resurrection
16. Worldly prosperity is not to be admired














Though in his lifetime
The phrase "in his lifetime" refers to the temporal, earthly existence of a person. In Hebrew, the word for "lifetime" is "ḥay," which signifies life, living, or the state of being alive. This emphasizes the fleeting nature of human life, a common theme in the Psalms. The psalmist is drawing attention to the limited scope of human existence, reminding us that our earthly life is but a moment in the grand scheme of eternity. This perspective encourages believers to focus on eternal values rather than temporary, worldly gains.

he blesses his soul
The act of blessing one's soul can be understood as self-congratulation or self-satisfaction. The Hebrew word for "bless" is "barak," which can mean to kneel, to praise, or to congratulate. Here, it suggests a person who takes pride in their achievements and possessions, attributing their success to their own efforts. This self-blessing is a form of self-deception, as it ignores the sovereignty of God in providing and sustaining life. The psalmist warns against this prideful attitude, urging believers to recognize that all blessings ultimately come from God.

and men praise you
The phrase "men praise you" indicates the approval and admiration of others. In the Hebrew context, "praise" is "halal," which means to boast or to glorify. This reflects the human tendency to seek validation and esteem from others based on material success or social status. The psalmist highlights the superficiality of such praise, as it is often based on external appearances rather than true, godly character. This serves as a reminder to seek God's approval above human accolades.

when you prosper
Prosperity, in this context, refers to material wealth and success. The Hebrew word "tov" is often translated as "good" or "prosperous," indicating a state of well-being or abundance. The psalmist points out that prosperity can lead to a false sense of security and self-reliance. While prosperity is not inherently wrong, it becomes problematic when it leads individuals away from dependence on God. The psalmist encourages believers to view prosperity as a gift from God, to be used for His glory and the benefit of others, rather than as a means of self-exaltation.

(18) Though, while he lived. . . .--This is abundantly illustrated by our Lord's parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:19; comp. Deuteronomy 29:19).

And men will.--Rather, and though men praise thee, &c. "Although prosperity produces self-gratulation, and procures the homage of the world as well, yet," &c

Verse 18. - Though while he lived he blessed his soul (comp. Psalm 10:3; Luke 12:19). He thought himself happy, and congratulated himself on his good fortune. And men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. A parenthetic remark. Not only do such men congratulate themselves, but the world's applause follows on them. So long as they are well-to-do, and keep themselves in the forefront of the battle of life, they will have "honour, reverence, and troops of friends," who will admire them and flatter them.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Though
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

in his lifetime
בְּחַיָּ֣יו (bə·ḥay·yāw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

he blesses
יְבָרֵ֑ךְ (yə·ḇā·rêḵ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

his soul—
נַ֭פְשׁוֹ (nap̄·šōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

and men praise
וְ֝יוֹדֻ֗ךָ (wə·yō·w·ḏu·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3034: To throw, at, away, to revere, worship, to bemoan

you when
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you prosper—
תֵיטִ֥יב (ṯê·ṭîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3190: To be good, well, glad, or pleasing


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OT Poetry: Psalm 49:18 Though while he lived he blessed his (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 49:17
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