Psalms 49:5

Psalms 49:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
• New International Version (NIV)Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—
• English Standard Version (ESV)Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Why should I fear in the days of evil, When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

Context of Psalms 49:5

3My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding: 4I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp. Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me? — 6They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. ... 7None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,

Psalms 49:5 word by word

לָ֣מָּה אִ֭ירָא בִּ֣ימֵי רָ֑ע עֲוֹ֖ן עֲקֵבַ֣י יְסוּבֵּֽנִי׃Read the interlinear

Cross-references for Psalms 49:5

• Psalms 27:1Jehovah is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
• Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength, a help in distresses, very readily found.
• Isaiah 41:10— Fear not, for I [am] with thee; be not dismayed, for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
• Acts 27:24saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted to thee all those that sail with thee.
• Romans 8:33Who shall bring an accusation against God's elect? [It is] God who justifies:
• Philippians 1:28and not frightened in anything by the opposers, which is to them a demonstration of destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God;
• Proverbs 24:10[If] thou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.
• Amos 5:13Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in this time; for it is an evil time.
• Ephesians 5:16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
• Psalms 38:4For mine iniquities are gone over my head: as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
• Proverbs 5:22His own iniquities shall take the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.
• Hosea 7:2And they say not in their hearts [that] I remember all their wickedness: now do their own doings encompass them; they are before my face.
• Proverbs 22:16He that oppresseth the poor, it is to enrich him; he that giveth to the rich, [bringeth] only to want.
• Genesis 49:17Dan will be a serpent on the way, A horned snake on the path, Which biteth the horse's heels, So that the rider falleth backwards.
• 1 Samuel 26:20And now, let not my blood fall to the earth far from the face of Jehovah; for the king of Israel is come out to seek a single flea, as when they hunt a partridge on the mountains.

Commentaries on Psalms 49:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5The iniquity of my heels - Perhaps עקבי akebai, which we translate my heels, should be considered the contracted plural of עקבים akebim, supplanters. The verse would then read thus: "Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, though the iniquity of my supplanters should compass me about." The Syriac and Arabic have taken a similar view of the passage: "Why should I fear in the evil day, when the iniquity of my enemies compasses me about." And so Dr…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil - This verse is designed evidently to state the main subject of the psalm; the result of the reflections of the author on what had been to him a source of perplexity; on what had seemed to him to be a dark problem. He “had” evidently felt that there was occasion to dread the power of wicked rich men; but he now felt that he had no ground for that fear and alarm. He saw that their power was short-lived; that all…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-8If enemies who live for material rewards cannot sustain themselves, how can they give life to others?Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. iniquity--or, "calamity" (Psa 40:12). of my heels--literally "my supplanters" (Ge 27:36), or oppressors: "I am surrounded by the evils they inflict."Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 49:5

• Doubting

In the dictionaries

• Approve
• Boast
• Carry
• Likewise
• Manasseh
• Psalms
• Affliction
• Bible, the
• Dark Sayings
• Eschatology of the Old Testament

Commentaries on Psalms 49

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings