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Psalm 49:16

Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

14They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion.
15But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah.
16Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.
18Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
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← Psalm 49:15Psalm 49:17 →
Notice

A growing fortune and a household’s rising glory can make someone else seem untouchable; the psalm names the fear that such wealth can provoke.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

Whose growing wealth makes you feel less secure, and what seems threatening about it?

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How does the next verse’s claim that wealth cannot follow someone into death change your view of success?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

9 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 37:7Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.Both passages tell the reader to resist distress over another person’s prosperity.
Psalm 37:1By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.Both address troubled responses to other people, though Psalm 37 names evildoers and Psalm 49:16 names someone becoming rich.
Revelation 21:26and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter.Both mention glory, though Revelation describes the nations bringing it in, while the psalm describes a household’s increase.
Revelation 21:24The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.Both speak of glory associated with earthly people; Revelation names kings and nations, while the psalm names a rich man’s house.
Esther 3:1–6After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.Haman’s promotion and the household’s increased glory share the theme of rising status, though Esther’s supplied verse does not mention wealth.
Genesis 31:1Jacob heard Laban’s sons’ words, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s. He has obtained all this wealth from that which was our father’s.”Both concern someone’s increased wealth, with Genesis recording accusations about Jacob and the psalm addressing fear.
Proverbs 28:12When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.Both connect rising status with human responses, though Proverbs distinguishes righteous triumph from the fear caused by wicked people rising.
Psalm 49:5Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?Fear links these verses within the same psalm: one questions fear amid evil, and the other rejects fear at growing wealth.
Esther 5:11Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him …Haman recounts the glory of his riches, matching the psalm’s pairing of wealth with a household’s increasing glory.
Where this verse fits

Envy and comparison. job loss or money fear. fear for the future.

What the Bible says about money →What the Bible says about fear →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Review one spending choice shaped by comparison

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Encouragement

Another person’s wealth has limits, even when their house looks secure. The surrounding verses ground courage in God’s power to redeem from death; riches cannot go with their owner.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 49:16. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 49 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).