New Living Translation
Psalms 49:5
5Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround 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
3For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight. 4I listen carefully to many proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp. Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me? 6They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. 7Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.
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— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
- Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
- Isaiah 41:10Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
- Acts 27:24and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’
- Romans 8:33Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.
- Philippians 1:28Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.
- Proverbs 24:10If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.
- Amos 5:13So those who are smart keep their mouths shut, for it is an evil time.
- Ephesians 5:16Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
- Psalms 38:4My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear.
- Proverbs 5:22An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.
- Hosea 7:2Its people don’t realize that I am watching them. Their sinful deeds are all around them, and I see them all.
- Proverbs 22:16A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.
- Genesis 49:17Dan will be a snake beside the road, a poisonous viper along the path that bites the horse’s hooves so its rider is thrown off.
- 1 Samuel 26:20Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the Lord? Why has the king of Israel come out to search for a single flea? Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on 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
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