Psalms 49:5

“Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, etc.] This is the principal thing that all are before called to hearken to. This is the wisdom and understanding the psalmist had been meditating upon, and was about to utter; this is the parable he inclined his ear to, and the dark saying he would open; namely, that a saint has nothing to fear in the worst of times; which is a riddle to a natural man. Aben Ezra interprets “the days of evil” of the days of old age, as they are called, (<211201>Ecclesiastes 12:1), which bring on diseases, weakness, and death; in which a good man has no reason to fear; as that he should want the necessaries of life, since they that fear the Lord shall want no good…”

“iniquity--or, "calamity" (Psa 40:12). of my heels--literally "my supplanters" (Gen 27:36), or oppressors: "I am surrounded by the evils they inflict."”

“Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil - This verse is designed evidently to state the main subject of the psalm; the result of the reflections of the author on what had been to him a source of perplexity; on what had seemed to him to be a dark problem. He “had” evidently felt that there was occasion to dread the power of wicked rich men; but he now felt that he had no ground for that fear and alarm. He saw that their power was short-lived; that all the ability to injure, arising from their station and wealth, must soon cease; that his own highest interests could not be affected by anything which they could do. The “days of evil” here spoken of are the times which are referred to in the…”

“In the days - In times of great distress and calamity, when wicked men flourish, and good men are oppressed. Supplanters - This character fitly agrees to David's enemies, who were not only malicious, but deceitful and treacherous. Psalms 49:6”

“49:5-8 If enemies who live for material rewards cannot sustain themselves, how can they give life to others?”

“Wherefore: Psa 27:1, Psa 27:2, Psa 46:1, Psa 46:2; Isa 41:10, Isa 41:11; Act 27:24; Rom 8:33, Rom 8:34; Phi 1:28 days: Pro 24:10; Amo 5:13; Eph 5:16 iniquity: Psa 38:4; Pro 5:22; Hos 7:2 heels: Psa 22:16, Psa 56:6, Psa 56:7; Gen 49:17; Sa1 26:20 Psalms 49:6”

“(Heb.: 49:6-13) First division of the sermon. Those who have to endure suffering from rich sinners have no need to fear, for the might and splendour of their oppressors is hastening towards destruction. ימי רע are days in which one experiences evil, as in Psa 94:13, cf. Amo 6:3. The genitive r\' is continued in Amo 6:6 in a clause that is subordinate to the בימי of Psa 49:6 (cf. Sa1 25:15; Job 29:2; Psa 90:15). The poet calls his crafty and malicious foes עקבי. There is no necessity for reading עקבי as Bttcher does, since without doubt a participial noun עקב, supplantator, can be formed from עקב, supplantare; and although in its branchings out it coincides with עקב, planta, its meaning is…”