Logos Bible Study

Psalm 50:16–20

The NET BibleOther versions

English

Arabic

Czech

French

German

Hebrew

Hungarian

Italian

Korean

Latin

Portuguese

Russian

Simplified Chinese

Spanish

Traditional Chinese

50:16God says this to the evildoer:25

“How can you declare my commands,

and talk about my covenant?26

50:17For you hate instruction

and reject my words.27

50:18When you see a thief, you join him;28

you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives.29

50:19You do damage with words,30

and use your tongue to deceive.31

50:20You plot against your brother;32

you slander your own brother.33

Read in Logos

Footnotes

  1. 25 Heb “evil [one].” The singular adjective is used here in a representative sense; it refers to those within the larger covenant community who have blatantly violated the Lord’s commandments. In the psalms the “wicked” (רְשָׁעִים, résha’im) are typically proud, practical atheists (Ps 10:2, 4, 11) who hate God’s commands, commit sinful deeds, speak lies and slander, and cheat others (Ps 37:21).
  2. 26 Heb “What to you to declare my commands and lift up my covenant upon your mouth?” The rhetorical question expresses sarcastic amazement. The Lord is shocked that such evildoers would give lip-service to his covenantal demands, for their lifestyle is completely opposed to his standards (see vv. 18–20).
  3. 27 Heb “and throw my words behind you.”
  4. 28 Heb “you run with him.”
  5. 29 Heb “and with adulterers [is] your portion.”
  6. 30 Heb “your mouth you send with evil.”
  7. 31 Heb “and your tongue binds together [i.e., “frames”] deceit.”
  8. 32 Heb “you sit, against your brother you speak.” To “sit” and “speak” against someone implies plotting against that person (see Ps 119:23).
  9. 33 Heb “against the son of your mother you give a fault.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

But to the wicked God says:

“What right have you to recite my statutes

or take my covenant on your lips?

For you hate discipline,

and you cast my words behind you.

If you see a thief, you are pleased with him,

and you keep company with adulterers.

“You give your mouth free rein for evil,

and your tongue frames deceit.

You sit and speak against your brother;

you slander your own mother’s son.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

But to the wicked person, God says:

“What right have you to recite my laws

or take my covenant on your lips?

You hate my instruction

and cast my words behind you.

When you see a thief, you join with him;

you throw in your lot with adulterers.

You use your mouth for evil

and harness your tongue to deceit.

You sit and testify against your brother

and slander your own mother’s son.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

But God says to the wicked:

“What right do you have to recite my statutes

and to take my covenant on your lips?

You hate instruction

and fling my words behind you.

When you see a thief,

you make friends with him,

and you associate with adulterers.

You unleash your mouth for evil

and harness your tongue for deceit.

You sit, maligning your brother,

slandering your mother’s son.

NLTNew Living Translation

But God says to the wicked:

“Why bother reciting my decrees

and pretending to obey my covenant?

For you refuse my discipline

and treat my words like trash.

When you see thieves, you approve of them,

and you spend your time with adulterers.

Your mouth is filled with wickedness,

and your tongue is full of lies.

You sit around and slander your brother—

your own mother’s son.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

But to the wicked God says,

“What right have you to recite my statutes

and mention my covenant with your mouth,

while you yourself hate discipline,

and cast my words behind you?

When you see a thief, then you are pleased with him,

and your association is with adulterers.

You give your mouth free rein for evil,

and you harness your tongue to deceit.

You sit and speak against your brother;

you slander your mother’s son.

KJV 1900King James Version

But unto the wicked God saith,

What hast thou to do to declare my statutes,

Or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

Seeing thou hatest instruction,

And castest my words behind thee.

When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him,

And hast been partaker with adulterers.

Thou givest thy mouth to evil,

And thy tongue frameth deceit.

Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother;

Thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.