Psalms 5 · Verse 1

Psalms 5:1

To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.
Psalms 5:1, King James Version

Psalms 5:1 in other translations

BSBFor the choirmaster, to be accompanied by flutes. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.
WEBFor the Chief Musician, with the flutes. A Psalm by David. Give ear to my words, LORD. Consider my meditation.
ASVFor the Chief Musician; with the Nehiloth. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O Jehovah, Consider my meditation.
YLTTo the Overseer, ‘Concerning the Inheritances.' --A Psalm of David. My sayings hear, O Jehovah, Consider my meditation.
DARBYTo the chief Musician. Upon Nehiloth. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O Jehovah; consider my meditation.
BBEGive ear to my words, O Lord; give thought to my heart-searchings.
WebsterTo the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

What does Psalms 5:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Psa 5:1-12. Upon Nehiloth--flutes or wind instruments. The writer begs to be heard, on the ground of God's regard for His covenant-people and true worshippers as contrasted with His holy hatred to the wicked. He prays for divine guidance, on account of his watchful, malignant, and deceitful enemies; and for their destruction as being also God's enemies. At the same time he expresses his confidence that God will extend aid to His people.

1. meditation--moanings of that half-uttered form to which deep feeling gives rise--groanings, as in Ro 8:26, 27.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

David continues instant in prayers Psa 5:1, Psa 5:2; makes early application to God, Psa 5:3; and shows the hatred which God bears to the workers of iniquity, Psa 5:4-6. His determination to worship God, and to implore direction and support, Psa 5:7, Psa 5:8. He points out the wickedness of his enemies, Psa 5:9, and the destruction they may expect, Psa 5:10; and then shows the happiness of those who trust in the Lord, Psa 5:11, Psa 5:12. This Psalm is inscribed to the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. As neginoth may signify all kinds of instruments struck with a plectrum, stringed instruments, those like the drum, cymbals, etc.; so nechiloth, from חל chal, to be hollow, to bore through, may signify any kind of wind instruments, such as the horn, trumpet, flute, etc. See on Psa 4:1-8 (note). The Septuagint have, Εις το τελος, ὑπερ της κληρονομουσης, "In favor of her who obtains the inheritance." The Vulgate and Arabic have a similar reading. The word נחילות nechiloth they have derived from נחל nachal, to inherit. This may either refer to the Israelites who obtained the inheritance of the promised land, or to the Church of Christ which obtains through him, by faith and prayer, the inheritance among the saints in light. This Psalm is, especially, for the whole Church of God. Verse 1 Give ear to my words - This is properly a morning hymn, as the preceding was an evening hymn. We have seen from the conclusion of the last Psalm that David was very happy, and lay down and slept in the peace and love of his God. When he opens his eyes on the following morning, he not only remembers but feels the happiness of which he spoke; and with his first recollections he meditates on the goodness and mercy of God, and the glorious state of salvation into which he had been brought. He calls on God to give ear to his words; probably words of God's promises which he had been pleading.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 5:1-6
God is a prayer-hearing God. Such he has always been, and he is still as ready to hear prayer as ever. The most encouraging principle of prayer, and the most powerful plea in prayer, is, to look upon him as our King and our God. David also prays to a sin-hating God. sin is folly, and sinners are the greatest of all fools; fools of their own making. Wicked people hate God; justly are they hated of him, and this will be their endless misery and ruin. Let us learn the importance of truth and sincerity, in all the affairs of life. Liars and murderers resemble the devil, and are his children, therefore it may well be expected that God should abhor them. These were the characters of David's enemies; and such as these are still the enemies of Christ and his people.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 5:1 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.

אֲמָרַ֖י'a.ma.Raiwords myH561
הַאֲזִ֥ינָה\׀ha.'a.Zi.nahgive ear to !H238
יְהוָ֗הYah.wehO YahwehH3068
בִּ֣ינָהBi.nahconsider !H995
הֲגִֽיגִי\׃ha.Gi.gisighing myH1901

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

Cross references for Psalms 5:1

  • 1 John 5:14-15

    And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

  • Psalms 54:2

    Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

  • Psalms 19:14

    Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

  • 1 Peter 3:12

    For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

  • Psalms 55:1-2

    To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

  • Psalms 64:1

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

  • Psalms 86:1

    A Prayer of David. Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

  • Romans 8:26

    Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

  • Psalms 17:1

    A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

  • 1 Samuel 1:16

    Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

  • Psalms 80:1

    To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim–Eduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.

  • 1 Samuel 1:13

    Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 David prays, and professes his study in prayer.
4 God favours not the wicked.
7 David, professing his faith, prays to God to guide him;
10 to destroy his enemies;
11 and to preserve the godly.

Give.
17:1; 54:2; 55:1,2; 64:1; 80:1; 86:1; 1Pe 3:12; 1Jo 5:14,15
consider my.
19:14; 1Sa 1:13,16; *marg:
Ro 8:26

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

Context

  • Psalms 5:1

    To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.

  • Psalms 5:2

    Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

Read all of Psalms 5

Psalms 5:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Al Músico principal: sobre Nehiloth: Salmo de David. ESCUCHA, oh Jehová, mis palabras; considera la meditación mía.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Au chef de musique. Pour Nehiloth. Psaume de David.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Nimm zu Ohren, Jehova, meine Worte, merke auf mein Nachsinnen!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In finem, pro ea quæ hæreditatem consequitur. Psalmus David.