Psalms 41:5

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

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

American King James Version (AKJV)

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

American Standard Version (ASV)

Mine enemies speak evil against me,'saying , When will he die, and his name perish?

Basic English Translation (BBE)

My haters say evil against me, When will he be dead, and his name come to an end?

Webster's Revision

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

World English Bible

My enemies speak evil against me: "When will he die, and his name perish?"

English Revised Version (ERV)

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

Clarke's Psalms 41:5 Bible Commentary

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.

Barnes's Psalms 41:5 Bible Commentary

Mine enemies speak evil of me - They take occasion to speak evil of me in my weak and feeble state, thus adding to my sorrows. The word "evil" here refers to their calumnies or reproaches. They spoke of him as a bad man; as if it were desirable that he should die; that his influence in the world should come to an end, and that his name should be forgotten.

When shall he die - "He is sick; sick on account of his sins; it seems certain that he will die; and it is desirable that such a man should die. But he seems to linger on, as if there were no hope of his dying." Nothing can be imagined more unkind, cutting, severe than this - the desire that a man who is sick shall die, and be out of the way. Nothing could add more to the sorrows of sickness itself than such a wish; than to have it talked about among men - whispered from one to another - that such a man was a nuisance; that he was a bad man; that he was suffering on account of his sins; that it was desirable that his death should occur as soon as possible, and that all remembrance of him on earth should cease.

And his name perish - That he should be forgotten altogether; that his name should be no more mentioned; that all the influence of his life should cease forever. Of a truly bad man - a corrupter of the faith and the virtue of others - this is desirable, for the sooner such men are forgotten the better. Forgotten they will be Proverbs 10:7, but there is no more malignant feeling in regard to a good man, and especially when such a man is suffering under a severe disease, than the wish that he should die, and that his name should wholly fade away from recollection.