Psalms 49:18 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

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

Though while he lived he blessed his soul - as the rich fool congratulated himself on his own happiness, and blessed his soul (Luke 12:19; cf. note, Psalms 49:11).

And (men) will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself - a sudden transition to a direct address to the rich man: 'and (though) men praise thee because thou treatest thyself well'-because thou grudgest thyself no self-indulgence or luxury (Isaiah 5:22). The apodosis follows in Psalms 49:19, '(Yet) he shall go to the generation of his fathers.' Hengstenberg, instead of "though," translates kiy (H3588), 'for he blessed his soul while he lived,' making his blessing his soul in this life and enjoying the praises of men for his self-indulgent luxury the reason why God will not allow his "glory" to "descend after him" (Psalms 49:17; cf. Luke 16:25): God cannot allow men to make a paradise of this sinful world, and yet also to inherit the paradise hereafter.

Psalms 49:18

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