My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.
Parallel translations
- KJV My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
- BSB My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring 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 19:14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.
- Matt 12:35The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.
- Prov 22:20–21Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
- Prov 22:17Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
- Deut 32:2My doctrine will drop as the rain. My speech will condense as the dew, as the misty rain on the tender grass, as the showers on the herb.
- 2 Tim 3:15–17From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
- Job 33:3My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
- Job 33:33If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
- Ps 119:130The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
- Ps 37:30The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.
- Ps 45:1For the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song. My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
- Prov 4:1–2Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
- Prov 8:6–11Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
- Ps 104:34Let my meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in Yahweh.
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.