Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, July 19th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

Young's Literal Translation

Psalms 49:4

I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Harp;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Korah;   Parable;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Understanding;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Proverb;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, the Book of;   Proverbs, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Riddle;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - English Versions;   Eschatology;   Greek Versions of Ot;   Korah, Korahites;   Parable;   Proverb;   Psalms;   Sin;   Wealth;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - God;   Korah;   Psalms the book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Dark Sayings;   Games;   Hezekiah (2);   Proverbs, Book of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I turn my ear to a proverb;I explain my riddle with a lyre.
Hebrew Names Version
I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
King James Version
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
English Standard Version
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
New Century Version
I will pay attention to a wise saying; I will explain my riddle on the harp.
New English Translation
I will learn a song that imparts wisdom; I will then sing my insightful song to the accompaniment of a harp.
Amplified Bible
I will incline my ear and consent to a proverb; On the lyre I will unfold my riddle.
New American Standard Bible
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp.
World English Bible
I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
Geneva Bible (1587)
I will incline mine eare to a parable, and vtter my graue matter vpon the harpe.
Legacy Standard Bible
I will incline my ear to a proverb;I will express my riddle on the harp.
Berean Standard Bible
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
Contemporary English Version
I have in mind a mystery that I will explain while playing my harp.
Complete Jewish Bible
My mouth is about to speak wisdom; my heart's deepest thoughts will give understanding.
Darby Translation
I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.
Easy-to-Read Version
I listened to these sayings. And now, with my harp, I will sing and make the hidden meaning clear.
George Lamsa Translation
I will incline my ear to parables; I will chant my proverbs upon the harp.
Good News Translation
I will turn my attention to proverbs and explain their meaning as I play the harp.
Lexham English Bible
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will propound my riddle on a lyre.
Literal Translation
I will bow down my ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying on the harp.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I wil encline myne eare to the parable, & shewe my darcke speach vpon the harpe.
American Standard Version
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
Bible in Basic English
I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
King James Version (1611)
I will incline mine eare to a parable; I will open my darke saying vpon the harpe.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
I wyll encline myne eare to a parable: I wyll open my darke sentence vpon a harpe.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.
English Revised Version
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
I schal bouwe doun myn eere in to a parable; Y schal opene my resoun set forth in a sautree.
Update Bible Version
I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying on the harp.
Webster's Bible Translation
I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
New King James Version
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.
New Living Translation
I listen carefully to many proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.
New Life Bible
I will turn my ear to a wise saying. With a harp, I will tell what is hard to understand.
New Revised Standard
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
I will bend, to a by-word, mine ear, I will open, on the lyre, mine enigma.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(48-5) I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my proposition on the psaltery.
Revised Standard Version
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp.

Contextual Overview

1 To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world. 2 Both low and high, together rich and needy. 3 My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding. 4 I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle: 5 Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.

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

Genesis 35:22
and it cometh to pass in Israel's dwelling in that land, that Reuben goeth, and lieth with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heareth.
Genesis 46:8
And these [are] the names of the sons of Israel who are coming into Egypt: Jacob and his sons, Jacob's first-born, Reuben.
Genesis 49:1
And Jacob calleth unto his sons and saith, `Be gathered together, and I declare to you that which doth happen with you in the latter end of the days.
Genesis 49:6
Into their secret, come not, O my soul! Unto their assembly be not united, O mine honour; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will eradicated a prince.
Genesis 49:8
Judah! thou -- thy brethren praise thee! Thy hand [is] on the neck of thine enemies, Sons of thy father bow themselves to thee.
Deuteronomy 5:21
`Thou dost not desire thy neighbour's wife; nor dost thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, and his man-servant, and his handmaid, his ox, and his ass, and anything which [is] thy neighbour's.
Deuteronomy 27:20
`Cursed [is] he who is lying with his father's wife, for he hath uncovered his father's skirt, -- and all the people have said, Amen.
Deuteronomy 33:6
Let Reuben live, and not die, And let his men be a number.
1 Chronicles 5:1
As to sons of Reuben, first-born of Israel -- for he [is] the first-born, and on account of his profaning the couch of his father hath his birthright been given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, and [he is] not to be reckoned by genealogy for the birthright,
1 Corinthians 5:1
Whoredom is actually heard of among you, and such whoredom as is not even named among the nations -- as that one hath the wife of the father! --

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.


 
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