New English Translation
Psalms 49:5
5Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when the sinful deeds of deceptive men threaten to overwhelm me?
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
3I will declare a wise saying; I will share my profound thoughts. 4I will learn a song that imparts wisdom; I will then sing my insightful song to the accompaniment of a harp. Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when the sinful deeds of deceptive men threaten to overwhelm me? 6They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches. 7Certainly a man cannot rescue his brother; he cannot pay God an adequate ransom price
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 delivers and vindicates me! I fear no one! The Lord protects my life! I am afraid of no one!
- Psalms 46:1God is our strong refuge; he is truly our helper in times of trouble.
- Isaiah 41:10Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you – yes, I help you – yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!
- Acts 27:24and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar, and God has graciously granted you the safety of all who are sailing with you.’
- Romans 8:33Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
- Philippians 1:28and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of their destruction, but of your salvation – a sign which is from God.
- Proverbs 24:10If you faint in the day of trouble, your strength is small!
- Amos 5:13For this reason whoever is smart keeps quiet in such a time, for it is an evil time.
- Ephesians 5:16taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
- Psalms 38:4For my sins overwhelm me; like a heavy load, they are too much for me to bear.
- Proverbs 5:22The wicked will be captured by his own iniquities, and he will be held by the cords of his own sin.
- Hosea 7:2They do not realize that I remember all of their wicked deeds. Their evil deeds have now surrounded them; their sinful deeds are always before me.
- Proverbs 22:16The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain and the one who gives to the rich – both end up only in poverty.
- Genesis 49:17May Dan be a snake beside the road, a viper by the path, that bites the heels of the horse so that its rider falls backward.
- 1 Samuel 26:20Now don’t let my blood fall to the ground away from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has gone out to look for a flea the way one looks for a partridge in the hill country.”
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
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Commentaries