English Standard Version
Psalms 49:4
4I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
Psalms 49:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
- New International Version (NIV)I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
- New King James Version (NKJV)I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I listen carefully to many proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.
Context of Psalms 49:4
2both low and high, rich and poor together! 3My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. 5Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, 6those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Read all of Psalms 49Psalms 49:4 word by word
אַטֶּ֣ה לְמָשָׁ֣ל אָזְנִ֑י אֶפְתַּ֥ח בְּ֝כִנּ֗וֹר חִידָתִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 49:4
- Psalms 78:2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,
- Matthew 13:35This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world."
- Numbers 23:7And Balaam took up his discourse and said, "From Aram Balak has brought me, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains: 'Come, curse Jacob for me, and come, denounce Israel!'
- Ezekiel 20:49Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! They are saying of me, 'Is he not a maker of parables?'"
- Matthew 13:11And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
- Proverbs 1:6to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.
- Daniel 8:23And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise.
- Luke 12:3Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
- 2 Corinthians 3:12Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,
Commentaries on Psalms 49:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4I will incline mine ear to a parable - This was the general method of conveying instruction among the Asiatics. They used much figure and metaphor to induce the reader to study deeply in order to find out the meaning. This had its use; it obliged men to think and reflect deeply; and thus in some measure taught them the use, government, and management of their minds. My dark saying upon the harp - Music was sometimes used to soothe the animal spirits, and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4I will incline mine ear to a parable - The phrase “I will incline mine ear” means that he would listen or attend to - as we incline our ear toward those whom we are anxious to hear, or in the direction from which a sound seems to come. Compare Psalm 5:1; Psalm 17:1; Psalm 39:12; Isaiah 1:2. On the word rendered “parable” here משׁל mâshâl - see the notes at Isaiah 14:4. Compare Job 13:12, note; Job 27:1, note. The word properly means similitude; then, a…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4The teacher used proverbs and riddles to teach wisdom (see Proverbs 1:5–6).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. incline--to hear attentively (Psa 17:6; 31:2). parable--In Hebrew and Greek "parable" and "proverb" are translations of the same word. It denotes a comparison, or form of speech, which under one image includes many, and is expressive of a general truth capable of various illustrations. Hence it may be used for the illustration itself. For the former sense, "proverb" (that is, one word for several) is the usual English term, and for the latter, in which…Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 49:4
In the dictionaries
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
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