Psalm 50:16-20 New English Translation
16 God says this to the evildoer:[a]
“How can you declare my commands,
and talk about my covenant?[b]
17 For you hate instruction
and reject my words.[c]
18 When you see a thief, you join him;[d]
you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives.[e]
19 You do damage with words,[f]
and use your tongue to deceive.[g]
20 You plot against your brother;[h]
you slander your own brother.[i]
Footnotes
- Psalm 50:16 tn 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, reshaʿim) 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).
- Psalm 50:16 tn 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).
- Psalm 50:17 tn Heb “and throw my words behind you.”
- Psalm 50:18 tn Heb “you run with him.”
- Psalm 50:18 tn Heb “and with adulterers [is] your portion.”
- Psalm 50:19 tn Heb “your mouth you send with evil.”
- Psalm 50:19 tn Heb “and your tongue binds together [i.e., “frames”] deceit.”
- Psalm 50:20 tn Heb “you sit, against your brother you speak.” To “sit” and “speak” against someone implies plotting against that person (see Ps 119:23).
- Psalm 50:20 tn Heb “against the son of your mother you give a fault.”
New English Translation (NET)
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