God’s Word Translation
Psalms 49:4
4I will turn my attention to a proverb. I will explain my riddle with the ⌞music of⌟ a 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:
- English Standard Version (ESV)I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.
Context of Psalms 49:4
2common people and important ones, rich people and poor ones. 3My mouth will speak wise sayings, the insights I have carefully considered. I will turn my attention to a proverb. I will explain my riddle with the ⌞music of⌟ a lyre. 5Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when slanderers surround me with evil? 6They trust their riches and brag about their abundant wealth.
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 to illustrate points. I will explain what has been hidden long ago,
- Matthew 13:35So what the prophet had said came true: “I will open my mouth to illustrate points. I will tell what has been hidden since the world was made.”
- Numbers 23:7Then Balaam delivered this message: “Balak brought me from Aram. The king of Moab summoned me from the eastern mountains. ‘Come, curse Jacob for me,’ he said. ‘Come, condemn Israel.’
- Ezekiel 20:49Then I said, “Oh no! Almighty Lord, no! The people already say that I’m only telling stories.”
- Matthew 13:11Jesus answered, “Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you. But it has not been given to the crowd.
- Proverbs 1:6to understand a proverb and a clever saying, the words of wise people and their riddles.
- Daniel 8:23“In the last days of those kingdoms, when rebellions are finished, a stern-looking king who understands mysterious things will rise to power.
- Luke 12:3Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. Whatever you have whispered in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops.
- 2 Corinthians 3:12Since we have confidence ⌞in the new promise⌟, we speak very boldly.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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