Psalms

Psalm 49:16–20

¹⁶Do not be afraid when a man grows rich,

when the splendor of his house increases.

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.

²⁰A man who has riches without understanding

is like the beasts that perish.

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Do not	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
be afraid	תִּ֭ירָא	tî·rā	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H3372 fear
when	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
a man	אִ֑ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
grows rich	יַעֲשִׁ֣ר	ya·‘ă·šir	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6238 be or become rich
when	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the splendor	כְּב֣וֹד	kə·ḇō·wḏ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3519 abundance, honour, glory
of his house	בֵּיתֽוֹ׃	bê·ṯōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1004 house
increases	יִ֝רְבֶּה	yir·beh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	כִּ֤י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
when he dies	בְ֭מוֹתוֹ	ḇə·mō·w·ṯōw	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H4194 death
he will carry	יִקַּ֣ח	yiq·qaḥ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3947 take
nothing away	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
his abundance	כְּבוֹדֽוֹ׃	kə·ḇō·w·ḏōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3519 abundance, honour, glory
will not	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
follow him	אַחֲרָ֣יו	’a·ḥă·rāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H310 behind
down	יֵרֵ֖ד	yê·rêḏ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3381 come or go down, descend

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Though	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
in his lifetime	בְּחַיָּ֣יו	bə·ḥay·yāw	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H2416 alive, living
he blesses	יְבָרֵ֑ךְ	yə·ḇā·rêḵ	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1288 kneel, bless
his soul	נַ֭פְשׁוֹ	nap̄·šōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
and men praise	וְ֝יוֹדֻ֗ךָ	wə·yō·w·ḏu·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural; second person masculine singular	H3034 throw, cast
you when	כִּי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
you prosper	תֵיטִ֥יב	ṯê·ṭîḇ	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
he will join	תָּ֭בוֹא	tā·ḇō·w	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
the generation	דּ֣וֹר	dō·wr	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1755 period, generation, dwelling
of his fathers	אֲבוֹתָ֑יו	’ă·ḇō·w·ṯāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H1 father
who will never	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
see	יִרְאוּ־	yir·’ū-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7200 see
the light of day	אֽוֹר׃	’ō·wr	Noun - common singular	H216 light

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
A man	אָדָ֣ם	’ā·ḏām	Noun - masculine singular	H120 man, mankind
who has riches	בִּ֭יקָר	bî·qār	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular	H3366 preciousness, price, honour
without	וְלֹ֣א	wə·lō	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
understanding	יָבִ֑ין	yā·ḇîn	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H995 discern
is like	נִמְשַׁ֖ל	nim·šal	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H4911 represent, be like
the beasts	כַּבְּהֵמ֣וֹת	kab·bə·hê·mō·wṯ	Preposition-k, Article; Noun - feminine plural	H929 beast, animal, cattle
that perish	נִדְמֽוּ׃	niḏ·mū	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural	H1820 cease, cause to cease, cut off, destroy