My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
Parallel translations
- WEB My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.
- KJV My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
- NKJV My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.
- NASB My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
- NLT For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The psalmist promises words of wisdom and understanding. He speaks not idle talk but instruction grounded in God.
Overview
Like the wisdom literature of Proverbs, the speaker presents his message as 'words of wisdom' from a heart of 'understanding.' This frames the psalm as teaching meant to reshape how the hearer views life, wealth, and death. True wisdom, Scripture teaches, begins with the fear of the Lord and is fully revealed in Christ, in whom all wisdom is hidden.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Ps 19:14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
- Matt 12:35The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
- Prov 22:20–21Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
- Prov 22:17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge—
- Deut 32:2Let my teaching fall like rain and my speech settle like dew, like gentle rain on new grass, like showers on tender plants.
- 2 Tim 3:15–17From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
- Job 33:3My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.
- Job 33:33But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”
- Ps 119:130The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.
- Ps 37:30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
- Ps 45:1For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies.” A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
- Prov 4:1–2Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
- Prov 8:6–11Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
- Ps 104:34May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 49:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.