Psalm 49 18

Psalm 49:18 kjv

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

Psalm 49:18 nkjv

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

Psalm 49:18 niv

Though while they live they count themselves blessed? and people praise you when you prosper?

Psalm 49:18 esv

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

Psalm 49:18 nlt

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

Psalm 49 verses

Psalm 49 18 Meaning

This verse critiques the worldview of the prosperous individual who, throughout their earthly life, congratulates themselves on their wealth and perceives their material success as a "blessing." Concurrently, society reinforces this self-approval by commending and admiring such a person precisely for their ability to amass riches and achieve worldly "good fortune." It exposes the fleeting nature of self-congratulatory wealth and the superficiality of human praise rooted in material gain.

Psalm 49 18 Context

Psalm 49 is a wisdom psalm that delves into the timeless problem of why the wicked, particularly the wealthy and powerful, seem to prosper while the righteous suffer. It directly challenges the common ancient Near Eastern belief, and often a temptation within Israel, that material prosperity is always an infallible sign of God's favor and personal righteousness. The psalm systematically deconstructs the illusion of security that wealth offers, arguing that riches cannot buy redemption from death, ensure lasting fame, or provide true lasting well-being. Verse 18 is part of the psalm's descriptive indictment of the self-serving rich person. It depicts their mindset and the societal reaction to it, laying the groundwork for the ultimate conclusion that all, regardless of wealth, face the same inevitable end of the grave, and only God can ransom the soul for true eternal life. Historically, this challenged the societal norms that celebrated external displays of power and affluence as markers of success, irrespective of one's walk with God.

Psalm 49 18 Word analysis

• כִּי (ki) - "Though" / "Indeed": This particle can introduce a concessive clause, indicating a contrast ("though while he lived..."). It emphasizes that even in spite of the ultimate fate, the self-blessing and external praise still occur. It sets up the ironic reality.
• נַפְשׁוֹ (nafsho) - "his soul" / "his life" / "himself": Derived from nefesh (נֶפֶשׁ), meaning "soul," "life," or "self." Here, it highlights the deeply internalized and self-centered nature of the rich person's perceived blessing. It is directed inwardly, focused on their own existence and satisfaction rather than a higher purpose or divine relationship.
• בְּחַיָּיו (b'chayyav) - "in his life" / "while he lived": This phrase, from chayyim (חַיִּים, life), strictly confines the "blessing" to the temporal realm. It starkly contrasts with the psalm's theme of death and eternity, emphasizing the fleeting nature of such a self-bestowed happiness. The "blessing" is contingent on his earthly existence.
• יְבָרֵךְ (yevarekh) - "he blessed": From the verb barakh (בָּרַךְ), typically meaning to bless (God blesses man, or man blesses/praises God). Here, it's used reflexively or self-referentially ("he blessed his soul"), a very unusual construction. This signifies self-congratulation, self-satisfaction, or even a presumptive declaration of his own prosperity as divine favor, but entirely from a self-serving perspective. It suggests a profound distortion of true blessing.
• וְיֹדוּכָה (v'yoducha) - "and they praise you" / "and they acknowledge you": From yadah (יָדָה), which means to praise, confess, or give thanks. This describes the external affirmation received. Society, like the rich individual, also misinterprets wealth as a sign of approval, applauding financial success rather than righteous living. The praise is superficial and self-serving on the part of those giving it, hoping perhaps for favor or gain.
• כִּי (ki) - "when" / "because": This second instance of "ki" clarifies the direct reason for the praise: it is specifically because of material success, not moral uprightness or service.
• תֵיטִיב (teitiv) - "you do well" / "you prosper": From yatav (יָטַב), to be good, do good, make well, prosper. In this context, it unequivocally refers to achieving financial prosperity and worldly success. It is "doing well" in the sense of accumulating riches and increasing one's estate, not in a moral or ethical sense.
• לָךְ (lach) - "for yourself" / "to yourself": Explicitly underscores the egocentric focus. The "doing well" is solely for the benefit and accumulation of the individual, emphasizing a self-serving ambition rather than communal benefit or devotion to God.

• "Though while he lived he blessed his soul": This phrase encapsulates the central error of the wealthy fool – identifying personal well-being and a sense of "blessing" with material abundance, and actively affirming this self-congratulation throughout their temporal life. It describes a deep spiritual blindness and a fundamental misplacement of trust and value.
• "and men praise you when you do well for yourself": This phrase highlights the tragic collusion of society in this illusion. The world celebrates and legitimizes this self-focused prosperity, often confusing material success with genuine virtue or divine favor. It shows the superficiality of worldly commendation and its inability to discern true blessing.

Psalm 49 18 Bonus section

• The rare and striking use of barakh (bless) in the form "he blessed his soul" (reflexive/direct object on self) vividly portrays a person completely engrossed in self-admiration and satisfaction from their worldly achievements, devoid of recognition of a higher power or external blessing. It underscores a form of spiritual narcissism.
• The "praise" mentioned ("they praise you") is an unstable foundation, derived from human opinion which often shifts or is based on superficialities. The psalm subtly pits this human praise against God's true approval and enduring judgment, highlighting the inadequacy of such fleeting admiration.
• This verse serves as a crucial bridge within Psalm 49, transitioning from the description of the rich person's current perceived success and earthly existence to the inevitable fate that awaits them – the inability to escape death and the ultimate folly of trusting in riches alone.

Psalm 49 18 Commentary

Psalm 49:18 unveils the profound self-deception and misplaced values that characterize those who anchor their identity and hope in material wealth. The phrase "he blessed his soul" signifies an ironic twist on the concept of blessing; it is not from God, nor for others, but a self-generated commendation based on possessions. This individual finds satisfaction in their own life choices and accumulated assets, becoming their own source of validation. The world, tragically, reinforces this delusion, lavishing praise not upon genuine goodness or service, but purely on outward material prosperity. "When you do well for yourself" starkly reveals the criteria for such human accolades – purely selfish gain. This verse powerfully critiques both the pride of life that values self-sufficiency in wealth and the worldly perspective that admires it, completely missing the eternal, spiritual reality that such fleeting achievements cannot secure redemption or transcend death. It implicitly calls for a re-evaluation of what constitutes true "blessing" and enduring worth.