Psalms 75:4

King James Version

I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,' and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn;

Geneva Bible (1587)
I saide vnto the foolish, Be not so foolish, and to the wicked, Lift not vp the horne.

Christian Standard Bible®
I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn.

Hebrew Names Version
I said to the arrogant, "Don't boast;" To the wicked, "Don't lift up the horn.

Easy-to-Read Version
"To those who are proud I say, ‘Stop your boasting.' I warn the wicked, ‘Don't brag about how strong you are.

Amplified Bible
"I said to the arrogant, 'Do not boast;' And to the wicked, 'Do not lift up the horn [of self-glorification].

American Standard Version
I said unto the arrogant, Deal not arrogantly; And to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

Contemporary English Version
You tell every bragger, "Stop bragging!" And to the wicked you say, "Don't boast of your power!

Complete Jewish Bible
When the earth quakes, with all living on it, it is I who hold its support-pillars firm." (Selah)

JPS Old Testament (1917)
When the earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved, I Myself establish the pillars of it.' Selah

King James Version (1611)
I said vnto the fooles, Deale not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not vp the horne.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
I said unto the transgressors, Do not transgress; and to the sinners, Lift not up the horn.

English Revised Version
I said unto the arrogant, Deal not arrogantly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

Berean Standard Bible
I say to the proud, 'Do not boast,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up your horn.

Lexham English Bible
I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast!' and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn!

Literal Translation
I said to the boastful, Do not boast; and to the wicked, Do not lift up the horn.

New Century Version
I say to those who are proud, ‘Don't brag,' and to the wicked, ‘Don't show your power.

New English Translation
I say to the proud, "Do not be proud," and to the wicked, "Do not be so confident of victory!

New King James Version
"I said to the boastful, "Do not deal boastfully,' And to the wicked, "Do not lift up the horn.

New Living Translation
"I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!' I told the wicked, ‘Don't raise your fists!

New Life Bible
I said to the proud, ‘Do not speak with pride.' And I said to the sinful, ‘Do not lift up the horn.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
I have said to the boasters, Do not boast, And to the lawless, Do not lift up a horn;

Douay-Rheims Bible
(74-5) I said to the wicked: Do not act wickedly: and to the sinners: Lift not up the horn.

George Lamsa Translation
Thou saidst to the fools, Deal not foolishly, and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn;

Good News Translation
I tell the wicked not to be arrogant;

New American Standard Bible
"I said to the boastful, 'Do not boast,' And to the wicked, 'Do not lift up the horn;

Bishop's Bible (1568)
I sayd vnto fooles deale not so madly: & to the vngodly set not vp your horne.

New Revised Standard
I say to the boastful, "Do not boast," and to the wicked, "Do not lift up your horn;

Darby Translation
I said unto the boastful, Boast not; and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
I seide to wickid men, Nyle ye do wickidli; and to trespassouris, Nyle ye enhaunce the horn.

Young's Literal Translation
I have said to the boastful, `Be not boastful,' And to the wicked, `Raise not up a horn.'

World English Bible
I said to the arrogant, "Don't boast;" To the wicked, "Don't lift up the horn.

Revised Standard Version
I say to the boastful, "Do not boast," and to the wicked, "Do not lift up your horn;

Update Bible Version
I said to the arrogant, Do not deal arrogantly; And to the wicked, Don't lift up the horn:

Webster's Bible Translation
I said to the fools, Deal not foolishly; and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

Bible in Basic English
I say to the men of pride, Let your pride be gone: and to the sinners, Let not your horn be lifted up.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The earth is weake & all that is therin, but I beare vp hir pilers.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"I said to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,' And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn;

Legacy Standard Bible
I said to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,'And to the wicked, ‘Do not raise up the horn;

Contextual Overview

¹ Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare. ² When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly. ³ The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah. ⁴ I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: ⁵ Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I said: Psalms 82:2-8, Psalms 94:8, Proverbs 1:22, Proverbs 8:5, Proverbs 9:6

Lift: Psalms 89:17, Psalms 148:14, Daniel 7:20, Daniel 7:21, Zechariah 1:21

Reciprocal: Job 5:2 - the foolish Psalms 66:7 - let Psalms 74:22 - remember Psalms 83:2 - lifted Psalms 92:6 - a fool Luke 11:40 - fools

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I said unto the fools,.... To the vain gloriosos, proud boasters, mockers, and scoffers at the day of judgment, and burning of the world:

deal not foolishly; by glorying in themselves, boasting of their riches, and trusting in them; singing a requiem to themselves on account of their abundance, and by putting away the evil day far from them:

and to the wicked, lift not up the horn; of power, grandeur, and wealth, and use it to the injury of others; or be so elated with it as to look with disdain on others; or imagine they shall always continue in this exalted state, as antichrist the horned beast does, Revelation 18:7, the allusion is to horned beasts, particularly harts, which lift up their heads and horns in great pride p: the phrase signifies to behave proudly and haughtily.

p Vid. "Suidam in voce" εκεπουτιας.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I said unto the fools - To the wicked people in rebellion. Folly and wickedness in the Bible are synonymous terms, as they are identical in fact. See the notes at Psalms 14:1.

Deal not foolishly - Act not foolishly; carry not out your wicked plans. Do not pursue your schemes of wickedness and folly, for they cannot be successful, and they will only tend to involve you in ruin.

And to the wicked - The wicked people engaged in rebellion - either against a lawful human government, or against God.

Lift not up the horn - The horn is a symbol of strength. Compare Job 16:15; Daniel 7:7-8, Daniel 7:11, Daniel 7:21; Daniel 8:5, Daniel 8:8-9, Daniel 8:21. This is to be understood as the language of the person represented as speaking in the psalm - whether a prince, or whether God himself. It is counsel addressed to the wicked, that they should not attempt to put forth their strength in the accomplishment of their evil purposes. The reason given for this is stated in Psalms 75:6, namely, that success does not depend on chance, or on human power, but must come from God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 75:4. I said unto the fools — I have given the idolatrous Chaldeans sufficient warning to abandon their idols, and worship the true God; but they would not. I have also charged the wicked, to whom for a season I have delivered you because of your transgressions, not to lift up their horn-not to use their power to oppress and destroy. They have, notwithstanding, abused their power in the persecutions with which they have afflicted you. For all these things they shall shortly be brought to an awful account. On the term horn, Luke 1:69.