the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible
JPS Old Testament
Psalms 49:4
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
I turn my ear to a proverb;I explain my riddle with a lyre.
I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
I will pay attention to a wise saying; I will explain my riddle on the harp.
I will learn a song that imparts wisdom; I will then sing my insightful song to the accompaniment of a harp.
I will incline my ear and consent to a proverb; On the lyre I will unfold my riddle.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp.
I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
I will incline mine eare to a parable, and vtter my graue matter vpon the harpe.
I will incline my ear to a proverb;I will express my riddle on the harp.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
I have in mind a mystery that I will explain while playing my harp.
My mouth is about to speak wisdom; my heart's deepest thoughts will give understanding.
I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.
I listened to these sayings. And now, with my harp, I will sing and make the hidden meaning clear.
I will incline my ear to parables; I will chant my proverbs upon the harp.
I will turn my attention to proverbs and explain their meaning as I play the harp.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will propound my riddle on a lyre.
I will bow down my ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying on the harp.
I wil encline myne eare to the parable, & shewe my darcke speach vpon the harpe.
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.
I will incline mine eare to a parable; I will open my darke saying vpon the harpe.
I wyll encline myne eare to a parable: I wyll open my darke sentence vpon a harpe.
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
I schal bouwe doun myn eere in to a parable; Y schal opene my resoun set forth in a sautree.
I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying on the harp.
I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.
I listen carefully to many proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.
I will turn my ear to a wise saying. With a harp, I will tell what is hard to understand.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
I will bend, to a by-word, mine ear, I will open, on the lyre, mine enigma.
(48-5) I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my proposition on the psaltery.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
incline: Psalms 78:2, Matthew 13:35
parable: Numbers 23:7, Ezekiel 20:49, Matthew 13:11-15
dark: Proverbs 1:6, Daniel 8:23, Luke 12:3, 2 Corinthians 3:12
Reciprocal: Numbers 12:8 - dark speeches Judges 14:12 - a riddle 1 Samuel 10:5 - a psaltery 1 Kings 10:1 - prove him 2 Chronicles 9:1 - questions Job 27:1 - Job Job 28:21 - hid Mark 3:23 - in parables Mark 4:2 - by parables John 16:25 - proverbs 1 Corinthians 14:2 - howbeit
Cross-References
And it came to pass, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
And these are the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's first-born.
And Jacob called unto his sons, and said: 'Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the end of days.
Let my soul not come into their council; unto their assembly let my glory not be united; for in their anger they slew men, and in their self-will they houghed oxen.
Judah, thee shall thy brethren praise; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; thy father's sons shall bow down before thee.
Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.
Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he hath uncovered his father's skirt. And all the people shall say: Amen.
Let Reuben live, and not die in that his men become few.
And the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel--for he was the first-born; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, yet not so that he was to be reckoned in the genealogy as first-born.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
I will incline mine ear to a parable,.... In which way of speaking the doctrines of the Gospel were delivered out by Christ,
Matthew 13:3. Wherefore the prophet, representing his apostles and disciples, signifies that he would listen thereunto, that he might attain to the knowledge thereof, and communicate it to others;
I will open my dark saying upon the harp; the enigmas, riddles, and mysteries of the Gospel, being understood by the ministers of it, are opened and explained in a very pleasant and delightful manner; they are made clear and evident, and are as a lovely song upon a harp; see
Ezekiel 33:32.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
I 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 Psalms 5:1; Psalms 17:1; Psalms 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 sentence, sententious saying, apophthegm; then, a proverb; then, a song or poem. There is usually found in the word some idea of “comparison,” and hence, usually something that is to be illustrated “by” a comparison or a story. The reference here would seem to be to some dark or obscure subject which needed to be illustrated; which it was not easy to understand; which had given the writer, as well as others, perplexity and difficulty. He proposed now, with a view to understand and explain it, to place his ear, as it were, “close to the matter,” that he might clearly comprehend it. The matter was difficult, but he felt assured he could explain it - as when one unfolds the meaning of an enigma. The “problem” - the “parable” - the difficult point - related to the right use, or the proper value, of wealth, or the estimate in which it should be held by those who possessed it, and by those who did not. It was very evident to the author of the psalm that the views of people were not right on the subject; he therefore proposed to examine the matter carefully, and to state the exact truth.
I will open - I will explain; I will communicate the result of my careful inquiries.
My dark saying - The word used here - חידה chı̂ydâh - is rendered “dark speeches” in Numbers 12:8; “riddle,” in Judges 14:12-19; Ezekiel 17:2; “hard questions” in 1 Kings 10:1; 2 Chronicles 9:1; “dark saying” (as here) in Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6; “dark sentences,” in Daniel 8:23; and “proverb” in Habakkuk 2:6. It does not elsewhere occur. It means properly “something entangled, intricate;” then, a trick or stratagem; then art intricate speech, a riddle; then, a sententious saying, a maxim; then a parable, a poem, a song, a proverb. The idea here is, that the point was intricate or obscure; it was not well understood, and he purposed “to lay it open,” and to make it plain.
Upon the harp - On the meaning of the word used here, see the notes at Isaiah 5:12. The idea here is, that he would accompany the explanation with music, or would so express it that it might be accompanied with music; that is, he would give it a poetic form - a form such that the sentiment might be used in public worship, and might be impressed upon the mind by all the force and power which music would impart. Sentiments of purity and truth, and sentiments of pollution and falsehood also, are always most deeply imbedded in the minds of people, and are made most enduring and effective, when they are connected with music. Thus the sentiments of patriotism are perpetuated and impressed in song; and thus sentiments of sensuality and pollution owe much of their permanence and power to the fact that they are expressed in corrupt verse, and that they are perpetuated in exquisite poetry, and are accompanied with song. Scenes of revelry, as well as acts of devotion, are kept up by song. Religion proposes to take advantage of this principle in our nature by connecting the sentiments of piety with the sweetness of verse, and by impressing and perpetuating those sentiments through associating them with all that is tender, pure, and inspiriting in music. Hence, music, both vocal and that which is produced by instruments, has always been found to be an invaluable auxiliary in securing the proper impression of truth on the minds of people, as well as in giving utterance to the sentiments of piety in devotion.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Psalms 49:4. I 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 thus prepare the mind for the prophetic influx.
