New King James Version
Psalms 49:5
5Why should I fear in the days of evil, When the iniquity at my heels surrounds 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 Living Translation (NLT)Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me?
Context of Psalms 49:5
3My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding. 4I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp. Why 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, 7None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him—
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; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
- Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
- Isaiah 41:10Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
- Acts 27:24saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
- Romans 8:33Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
- Philippians 1:28and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.
- Proverbs 24:10If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.
- Amos 5:13Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, For it is an evil time.
- Ephesians 5:16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
- Psalms 38:4For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
- Proverbs 5:22His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
- Hosea 7:2They do not consider in their hearts That I remember all their wickedness; Now their own deeds have surrounded them; They are before My face.
- Proverbs 22:16He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.
- Genesis 49:17Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse’s heels So that its rider shall fall backward.
- 1 Samuel 26:20So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries