Psalms 41 · Verse 5

Psalms 41:5

Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
Psalms 41:5, King James Version

Psalms 41:5 in other translations

BSBMy enemies say with malice: “When will he die and be forgotten?”
WEBMy enemies speak evil against me: “When will he die, and his name perish?”
ASVMine enemies speak evil against me, saying, When will he die, and his name perish?
YLTMine enemies say evil of me: When he dieth--his name hath perished!
DARBYMine enemies wish me evil: When will he die, and his name perish?
BBEMy haters say evil against me, When will he be dead, and his name come to an end?
WebsterMy enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?

What does Psalms 41:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 41:5-6
5-6. A graphic picture of the conduct of a malignant enemy.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Mine enemies speak evil - It is often a good man's lot to be evil spoken of; to have his motives, and even his most benevolent acts, misconstrued.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 41:5-13
We complain, and justly, of the want of sincerity, and that there is scarcely any true friendship to be found among men; but the former days were no better. One particularly, in whom David had reposed great confidence, took part with his enemies. And let us not think it strange, if we receive evil from those we suppose to be friends. Have not we ourselves thus broken our words toward God? We eat of his bread daily, yet lift up the heel against him. But though we may not take pleasure in the fall of our enemies, we may take pleasure in the making vain their designs. When we can discern the Lord's favour in any mercy, personal or public, that doubles it. If the grace of God did not take constant care of us, we should not be upheld. But let us, while on earth, give heartfelt assent to those praises which the redeemed on earth and in heaven render to their God and Saviour.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 41:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אוֹיְבַ֗י'oy.Vaienemies myH341
יֹאמְר֣וּyo.me.Ruthey speakH559
רַ֣עra'evilH7451
לִ֑יLiof me
מָתַ֥יma.Taiwhen?H4970
יָ֝מ֗וּתya.Mutwill he dieH4191
וְאָבַ֥דve.'a.Vadand will it perish?H6
שְׁמֽוֹ\׃she.Moname hisH8034

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 41:5

  • Psalms 102:8

    Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

  • Proverbs 10:7

    The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

  • Psalms 38:12

    They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

  • Job 20:7

    Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

  • Job 18:17

    His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.

  • Psalms 22:6-8

    But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mine.
22:6-8; 102:8
his name.
Job 18:17; 20:7; Pr 10:7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 41:4

    I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

  • Psalms 41:5

    Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?

  • Psalms 41:6

    And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

Read all of Psalms 41

Psalms 41:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mis enemigos dicen mal de mí preguntando: ¿Cuándo morirá, y perecerá su nombre?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		J’ai dit: Éternel! use de grâce envers moi, guéris mon âme, car j’ai péché contre toi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Meine Feinde wünschen mir Böses: Wann wird er sterben und sein Name vergehen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hæc recordatus sum, et effudi in me animam meam, quoniam transibo in locum tabernaculi admirabilis, usque ad domum Dei, in voce exsultationis et confessionis, sonus epulantis.