God’s Word Translation
Psalms 49:5
5Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when slanderers surround me with evil?
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 will speak wise sayings, the insights I have carefully considered. 4I will turn my attention to a proverb. I will explain my riddle with the ⌞music of⌟ a lyre. Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when slanderers surround me with evil? 6They trust their riches and brag about their abundant wealth. 7No one can ever buy back another person or pay God a ransom for his life.
Read all of Psalms 49Psalms 49:5 word by word
לָ֣מָּה אִ֭ירָא בִּ֣ימֵי רָ֑ע עֲוֹ֖ן עֲקֵבַ֣י יְסוּבֵּֽנִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 49:5
- Psalms 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation. Who is there to fear? The Lord is my life’s fortress. Who is there to be afraid of?
- Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
- Isaiah 41:10Don’t be afraid, because I am with you. Don’t be intimidated; I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will support you with my victorious right hand.
- Acts 27:24The angel told me, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul! You must present your case to the emperor. God has granted safety to everyone who is sailing with you.’
- Romans 8:33Who will accuse those whom God has chosen? God has approved of them.
- Philippians 1:28So don’t let your opponents intimidate you in any way. This is God’s way of showing them that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved.
- Proverbs 24:10If you faint in a crisis, you are weak.
- Amos 5:13That is why a wise person remains silent at such times, because those times are so evil.
- Ephesians 5:16Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days.
- Psalms 38:4My guilt has overwhelmed me. Like a heavy load, it is more than I can bear.
- Proverbs 5:22A wicked person will be trapped by his own wrongs, and he will be caught in the ropes of his own sin.
- Hosea 7:2They don’t realize that I remember all the evil things they’ve done. Now their sins surround them. Their sins are in my presence.
- Proverbs 22:16Oppressing the poor for profit ⌞or⌟ giving to the rich certainly leads to poverty.
- Genesis 49:17Dan will be a snake on a road, a viper on a path, that bites a horse’s heels so that its rider falls off backwards.
- 1 Samuel 26:20Don’t let my blood fall to the ground, away from the Lord’s presence. The king of Israel has come to search for one flea like someone hunting a partridge in the hills.”
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
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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