I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist isn't just saying he'll sing a song; he's emphasizing he'll first listen intently to God's wisdom before sharing it, and he'll use music not to soften difficult truths, but to make profound, perhaps perplexing, insights accessible and memorable. This shows his commitment to both receiving and communicating divine truth in a way that resonates deeply.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist, representing a divinely inspired teacher, is preparing to address a profound and perplexing issue: the seeming prosperity of the wicked contrasted with the struggles of the righteous. He announces his intention to first deeply listen and internalize this divine wisdom before proclaiming it. This "dark saying" or "riddle" about life's apparent unfairness will then be expressed in a structured, poetic, and musical form, making it both engaging and memorable for all people.
Before the prophet speaks truth to the world, he must first bow his ear to God. What does this tell us about true teaching?
Verse 4 reveals a profound principle for anyone who would speak about God or life's deepest truths: listening comes before speaking.
The Prophet as Student
The psalmist says, 'I will incline my ear to a parable.' This isn't a passive reception; it's an active leaning in, a deliberate focus. He's not just hearing; he's attending.
Why Listen So Deeply?
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Why would a prophet use a 'dark saying' and a harp? Discover the surprising power of art in communicating profound truth.
The psalmist isn't just sharing information; he's crafting an experience. The combination of a 'dark saying' (a riddle, an enigma) and musical accompaniment (the harp) is intentional and powerful.
The Art of the Riddle
The 'dark saying' or 'riddle' isn't meant to confuse, but to engage. These are profound truths, perhaps about life's inequalities, the vanity of riches, or the certainty of death, that aren't immediately obvious. They require thought, reflection, and a deeper understanding.
Music's Mysterious Power
The mention of the harp is key. Music has a unique ability to:
It’s about making divine wisdom accessible and resonant, using art to unlock the heart for deeper understanding.
Understand the original words
mashal · Hebrew Noun
A wise saying or a cryptic instruction intended to teach a moral or spiritual lesson. It is often meant to provoke deeper reflection and understanding of life's complexities from a godly perspective.
chidah · Hebrew Noun
A complex, often dark, or enigmatic statement that requires spiritual discernment to interpret. In the Psalms, it often refers to the mysteries of human existence, suffering, or divine justice.
kinnor · Hebrew Noun
A stringed musical instrument used frequently in worship and praise to the Lord. It signifies the accompaniment of divine truth with the human expression of emotion and aesthetic beauty.
This passage describes God speaking directly to Moses, in contrast to other prophets who received visions or dreams, highlighting the direct nature of the communication the Psalmist anticipates receiving.
Psalm 78:2This verse also speaks of speaking in parables and ancient riddles, showing this was a recognized method for conveying profound truths, much like the Psalmist intends here.
Ezekiel 33:32Here, the prophet is like a singer of love songs, whose beautiful words are heard but not heeded. This parallels the Psalmist's intent to deliver important truths musically, with the hope they will be received.
Matthew 13:35Jesus is said to have spoken in parables, fulfilling what was spoken through the prophet, demonstrating the long-standing practice of using such methods to reveal divine mysteries.
1 Peter 1:10-11The prophets themselves searched to understand the salvation they proclaimed, mirroring the Psalmist's own deep attention ('inclining his ear') to grasp the 'dark sayings' he then conveys.
gillPsalms 49:4: "I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp."
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…
poolePsalms 49:4: "I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp."
I will incline mine ear: this is another argument to persuade them to hearken to him: I will hearken what God by his Spirit speaks to me, and that and nothing else will I now speak to you; and therefore it is well worth your hearing. I also shall join with you in attending to it, that whilst I teach you, I myself may learn the same lesson. For as ministers now teach themselves whilst they teach others…
The psalmist isn't just saying he'll sing a song; he's emphasizing he'll first listen intently to God's wisdom before sharing it, and he'll use music not to soften difficult truths, but to make profound, perhaps perplexing, insights accessible and memorable. This shows his commitment to both receiving and communicating divine truth in a way that resonates deeply.
The psalmist, representing a divinely inspired teacher, is preparing to address a profound and perplexing issue: the seeming prosperity of the wicked contrasted with the struggles of the righteous. He announces his intention to first deeply listen and internalize this divine wisdom before proclaiming it. This "dark saying" or "riddle" about life's apparent unfairness will then be expressed in a structured, poetic, and musical form, making it both engaging and memorable for all people.
The psalmist, representing a divinely inspired teacher, is preparing to address a profound and perplexing issue: the seeming prosperity of the wicked contrasted with the struggles of the righteous. He announces his intention to first deeply listen and internalize this divine wisdom before proclaiming it. This "dark saying" or "riddle" about life's apparent unfairness will then be expressed in a structured, poetic, and musical form, making it both engaging and memorable for all people.
"I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre." — The psalmist isn't just saying he'll sing a song; he's emphasizing he'll first listen intently to God's wisdom before sharing it, and he'll use music not to soften difficult truths, but to make profo…
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Last reviewed October 2026