New King James Version
Psalms 49:4
4I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.
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 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, And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp. 5Why should I fear in the days of evil, When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me? 6Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude 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 of old,
- Matthew 13:35that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
- Numbers 23:7And he took up his oracle and said: “Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram, From the mountains of the east. ‘Come, curse Jacob for me, And come, denounce Israel!’
- Ezekiel 20:49Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’ ”
- Matthew 13:11He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
- Proverbs 1:6To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.
- Daniel 8:23“And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes.
- Luke 12:3Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
- 2 Corinthians 3:12Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries