the Second Week after Easter
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Psalms 50:16
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But God says to the wicked:“What right do you have to recite my statutesand to take my covenant on your lips?
But to the wicked God says, "What right do you have to declare my statutes, That you have taken my covenant on your lips,
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?
But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips?
But God says to the wicked, "Why do you talk about my laws? Why do you mention my agreement?
God says this to the evildoer: "How can you declare my commands, and talk about my covenant?
But to the wicked God says, "What right do you have to tell of My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth?
But to the wicked God says, "What right do you have to declare my statutes, That you have taken my covenant on your lips,
But vnto the wicked said God, What hast thou to doe to declare mine ordinances, that thou shouldest take my couenant in thy mouth,
But to the wicked God says,"What right have you to recount My statutesAnd to take My covenant in your mouth?
To the wicked, however, God says, "What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?
But to the wicked I say: "You don't have the right to mention my laws or claim to keep our agreement!
But to the wicked God says: "What right do you have to proclaim my laws or take my covenant on your lips,
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant into thy mouth,
But God says to the wicked, "Stop quoting my laws! Stop talking about my agreement!
But to the sinner, God says, How have you followed the books of my law? You have observed my covenant lightly,
But God says to the wicked, "Why should you recite my commandments? Why should you talk about my covenant?
But to the wicked God says, "What right have you to recite my statutes and mention my covenant with your mouth,
But to the wicked, God says, What is it to you to proclaim My statutes, and to take up My covenant on your mouth?
But vnto the vngodly sayeth God: Why doest thou preach my lawes, and takest my couenaunt in thy mouth?
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, And that thou hast taken my covenant in thy mouth,
But to the sinner, God says, What are you doing, talking of my laws, or taking the words of my agreement in your mouth?
But unto the wicked God saith: 'What hast thou to do to declare My statutes, and that thou hast taken My covenant in thy mouth?
But vnto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to doe, to declare my Statutes, or that thou shouldest take my Couenant in thy mouth?
But the Lorde sayd vnto the vngodly: why doest thou preache my lawes, and takest my couenaunt in thy mouth?
But to the sinner God has said, Why dost thou declare my ordinances, and take up my covenant in thy mouth?
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes; and that thou hast taken my covenant in thy mouth?
But God seide to the synnere, Whi tellist thou out my riytfulnessis; and takist my testament bi thi mouth?
But to the wicked God says, What have you to do to declare my statutes, And that you have taken my covenant in your mouth,
But to the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth,
But God says to the wicked: "Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant?
But to the sinful, God says: "What right do you have to tell of My Laws, and take My agreement in your mouth?
But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes, or take my covenant on your lips?
But, to the lawless one, God saith, What hast, thou, to do, to recount my statutes? Or that thou hast taken up my covenant upon thy mouth?
(49-16) But to the sinner God hath said: Why dost thou declare my justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth?
But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes, or take my covenant on your lips?
And to the wicked hath God said: What to thee -- to recount My statutes? That thou liftest up My covenant on thy mouth?
Next, God calls up the wicked: "What are you up to, quoting my laws, talking like we are good friends? You never answer the door when I call; you treat my words like garbage. If you find a thief, you make him your buddy; adulterers are your friends of choice. Your mouth drools filth; lying is a serious art form with you. You stab your own brother in the back, rip off your little sister. I kept a quiet patience while you did these things; you thought I went along with your game. I'm calling you on the carpet, now, laying your wickedness out in plain sight.
But to the wicked God says, "What right have you to tell of My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth?
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
wicked: Isaiah 48:22, Isaiah 55:6, Isaiah 55:7, Ezekiel 18:27
What: Proverbs 26:7, Isaiah 1:11-15, Isaiah 48:1, Isaiah 48:2, Isaiah 58:1-7, Jeremiah 7:4-7, Matthew 7:3-5, Matthew 7:22, Matthew 7:23, John 4:24, Acts 19:13-16, Romans 2:17-24, 1 Corinthians 9:27, 2 Peter 2:15
thou shouldest: Psalms 25:14, Psalms 78:36-38, Ezekiel 20:37, Ezekiel 20:38, Hebrews 8:9
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 4:4 - Hophni 1 Samuel 15:14 - What meaneth 1 Samuel 20:24 - the king 2 Samuel 15:12 - while he offered Psalms 2:5 - Then Psalms 119:43 - take not Proverbs 1:29 - that Proverbs 17:7 - Excellent speech Jeremiah 6:20 - To what Jeremiah 7:9 - steal Jeremiah 11:15 - to do Jeremiah 29:23 - and have Jeremiah 44:26 - that my name Ezekiel 33:26 - and shall Ezekiel 44:9 - General Matthew 23:3 - for Mark 1:25 - rebuked Luke 4:35 - Jesus Luke 6:42 - cast John 8:7 - He that John 12:6 - because Romans 2:21 - therefore 1 Corinthians 5:11 - fornicator 2 Thessalonians 2:12 - but Hebrews 13:4 - God James 3:10 - of
Cross-References
The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in and puts his confidence in the LORD will be exalted and safe.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
But unto the wicked God saith,.... By whom are meant, not openly profane sinners; but men under a profession of religion, and indeed who were teachers of others, as appears from the following expostulation with them: the Scribes, Pharisees, and doctors among the Jews, are designed; and so Kimchi interprets it of their wise men, who learnt and taught the law, but did not act according to it. It seems as if the preceding verses respected the truly godly among the Jews, who believed in Christ, and yet were zealous of the law; and retained legal sacrifices; as such there were, Acts 21:20; and that these words, and what follow, are spoken to hypocrites among them, who sat in Moses's chair, and said, and did not; were outwardly righteous before men, but inwardly full of wickedness, destitute of the grace of God and righteousness of Christ;
what hast thou to do to declare my statutes; the laws of God, which were given to the people of Israel; some of which were of a moral, others of a ceremonial, and others of a judicial nature; and there were persons appointed to teach and explain these to the people, as the priests and Levites: now some of these were abrogated, and not to be declared at all in the times this psalm refers to; and as for others, those persons were very improper to teach and urge the observance of them, when they themselves did not keep them; and especially it was wrong in them to declare them to the people, for such purposes as they did, namely, to obtain life and righteousness by them;
or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? which is to be understood, not of the covenant of works made with Adam, and now broke; nor of the pure covenant of grace, as administered under the Gospel dispensation, of which Christ is the Mediator, and the Gospel a transcript, since both were rejected by these persons; but the covenant at Mount Sinai, which was a typical one; and being in some sense faulty, was now antiquated, and ought to have ceased; and therefore these men are blamed for taking it in their mouths, and urging it on the people: and besides, they had no true sight of and faith in the thing exhibited by it; and moreover were not steadfast, nor did they continue in it, like their fathers before them, Psalms 78:37 Hebrews 8:7.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
But 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 âheartâ - was necessary in order to acceptance with God. In this part of the psalm the same principles are applied to those who actually âviolateâ the law which they profess to receive as prescribing the rules of true religion, and which they profess to teach to others. The design of the psalm is not merely to reprove the mass of the people as mere formalists in religion, but especially to reprove the leaders and teachers of the people, who, under the form of religion, gave themselves up to a course of life wholly inconsistent with the true service of God. The address here, therefore, is to those who, while they professed to be teachers of religion, and to lead the devotions of others, gave themselves up to abandoned lives.
What hast thou to do - What right hast thou to do this? How can people, who lead such lives, consistently and properly do this? The idea is, that they who profess to declare the law of a holy God should be themselves holy; that they who profess to teach the principles and doctrines of true religion should themselves be examples of purity and holiness.
To declare my statutes - My laws. This evidently refers rather to the teaching of others than to the profession of their own faith. The language would be applicable to the priests under the Jewish system, who were expected not only to conduct the outward services of religion, but also to instruct the people; to explain the principles of religion; to be the guides and teachers of others. Compare Malachi 2:7. There is a striking resemblance between the language used in this part of the psalm Psalms 50:16-20 and the language of the apostle Paul in Romans 2:17-23; and it would seem probable that the apostle in that passage had this portion of the psalm in his eye. See the notes at that passage.
Or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth - Either as professing faith in it, and a purpose to be governed by it - or, more probably, as explaining it to others. The ââcovenantââ here is equivalent to the âlawâ of God, or the principles of his religion; and the idea is, that he who undertakes to explain that to others, should himself be a holy man. He can have no ârightâ to attempt to explain it, if he is otherwise; he cannot hope to be âableâ to explain it, unless he himself sees and appreciates its truth and beauty. This is as true now of the Gospel as it was of the law. A wicked man can have no right to undertake the work of the Christian ministry, nor can he be able to explain to others what he himself does not understand.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Psalms 50:16. But unto the wicked — The bloodthirsty priests, proud Pharisees, and ignorant scribes of the Jewish people.
