New English Translation
Psalms 50:16
16God says this to the evildoer: “How can you declare my commands, and talk about my covenant?
Psalms 50:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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?
- New International Version (NIV)But to the wicked person, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?
- English Standard Version (ESV)But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips?
- New King James Version (NKJV)But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth,
Context of Psalms 50:16
14Present to God a thank-offering! Repay your vows to the sovereign One! 15Pray to me when you are in trouble! I will deliver you, and you will honor me!” God says this to the evildoer: “How can you declare my commands, and talk about my covenant? 17For you hate instruction and reject my words. 18When you see a thief, you join him; you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives.
Read all of Psalms 50Psalms 50:16 word by word
וְלָ֤רָשָׁ֨ע׀ אָ֘מַ֤ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים מַה־לְּ֭ךָ לְסַפֵּ֣ר חֻקָּ֑י וַתִּשָּׂ֖א בְרִיתִ֣י עֲלֵי־פִֽיךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But unto the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- What hast thou to do to declareסָפַרsâphar · to recountH5608
- my statutesחֹקchôq · statute: decreeH2706
- thou shouldest takeנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
- my covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
- in thy mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
Cross-references for Psalms 50:16
- Isaiah 48:22There will be no prosperity for the wicked,” says the Lord.
- Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while he makes himself available; call to him while he is nearby!
- Ezekiel 18:27When a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life.
- Proverbs 26:7Like legs that hang limp from the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
- Isaiah 1:11“Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am stuffed with burnt sacrifices of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want.
- Isaiah 48:1Listen to this, O family of Jacob, you who are called by the name ‘Israel,’ and are descended from Judah, who take oaths in the name of the Lord, and invoke the God of Israel – but not in an honest and just manner.
- Isaiah 58:1“Shout loudly! Don’t be quiet! Yell as loud as a trumpet! Confront my people with their rebellious deeds; confront Jacob’s family with their sin!
- Jeremiah 7:4Stop putting your confidence in the false belief that says, “We are safe! The temple of the Lord is here! The temple of the Lord is here! The temple of the Lord is here!”
- Matthew 7:3Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own?
- John 4:24God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
- Acts 19:13But some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by evil spirits, saying, “I sternly warn you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
- Romans 2:17But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relationship to God
- 1 Corinthians 9:27Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.
- 2 Peter 2:15By forsaking the right path they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,
- Psalms 25:14The Lord’s loyal followers receive his guidance, and he reveals his covenantal demands to them.
- Psalms 78:36But they deceived him with their words, and lied to him.
Commentaries on Psalms 50:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16But unto the wicked - The bloodthirsty priests, proud Pharisees, and ignorant scribes of the Jewish people.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16But unto the wicked God saith - This commences a second part of the subject. See the introduction. Thus far the psalm had reference to those who were merely external worshippers, or mere formalists, as showing that such could not be approved and accepted in the day of judgment; that spiritual religion - the offering of the “heart” - was necessary in order to acceptance with God. In this part of the psalm the same principles are applied to those who…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-23Verses 16-23 Hypocrisy is wickedness, which God will judge. And it is too common, for those who declare the Lord's statutes to others, to live in disobedience to them themselves. This delusion arises from the abuse of God's long-suffering, and a wilful mistake of his character and the intention of his gospel. The sins of sinners will be fully proved on them in the judgment of the great day. The day is coming when God will set their sins in order, sins of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-21This message is against the wicked, who only pretend to listen to God.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2016-20. the wicked--that is, the formalists, as now exposed, and who lead vicious lives (compare Ro 2:21, 23). They are unworthy to use even the words of God's law. Their hypocrisy and vice are exposed by illustrations from sins against the seventh, eighth, and ninth commandments.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 50:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 50
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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