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Read the Bible
Wycliffe Bible
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.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
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 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 while he dwellide in that cuntrei, Ruben yede, and slepte with Bala, the secundarie wijf of his fadir, which thing was not hid fro hym. Forsothe the sones of Jacob weren twelue;
Forsothe thes ben the names of the sones of Israel, that entriden in to Egipte; he with hise fre children. The firste gendrid Ruben;
Forsothe Jacob clepide hise sones, and seide to hem, Be ye gaderid that Y telle what thingis schulen come to you in the laste daies;
my soule come not in to the councel of hem, and my glorie be not in the congregacioun of hem; for in her woodnesse thei killiden a man, and in her wille thei myneden the wal;
Judas, thi britheren schulen preise thee, thin hondis schulen be in the nollis of thin enemyes; the sones of thi fadir schulen worschipe thee.
Thou schalt not coueite `the wijf of thi neiybore, not hows, not feeld, not seruaunt, not handmayde, not oxe, not asse, and alle thingis that ben hise.
Cursid is he that slepith with `the wijf of his fadir, and schewith the hiling of his bed; and al the puple schal seie, Amen!
Ruben lyue, and die not, and be he litil in noumbre.
Also the sones of Ruben, the firste gendrid sone of Israel; for he was the first gendrid sone of Israel, but whanne he hadde defoulid the bed of his fadir, the dignitye of his firste gendryng was youun to the sones of Joseph, the sone of Israel; and Ruben was not arettid in to the firste gendrid sone.
In al maner fornycacioun is herd among you, and siche fornycacioun, which is not among hethene men, so that summan haue the wijf of his fadir.
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.
