Psalms 50:15-21

50:15 Pray to me when you are in trouble! ¹ 

I will deliver you, and you will honor me!” ² 

50:16 God says this to the evildoer: ³ 

“How can you declare my commands,

and talk about my covenant? ⁴ 

50:17 For you hate instruction

and reject my words. ⁵ 

50:18 When you see a thief, you join him; ⁶ 

you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives. ⁷ 

50:19 You do damage with words, ⁸ 

and use your tongue to deceive. ⁹ 

50:20 You plot against your brother; ¹⁰ 

you slander your own brother. ¹¹ 

50:21 When you did these things, I was silent, ¹² 

so you thought I was exactly like you. ¹³ 

But now I will condemn ¹⁴  you

and state my case against you! ¹⁵ 

[50:15]  ¹ tn Heb “call [to] me in a day of trouble.”

[50:15]  ² sn In vv. 7-15 the Lord makes it clear that he was not rebuking Israel because they had failed to offer sacrifices (v. 8a). On the contrary, they had been faithful in doing so (v. 8b). However, their understanding of the essence of their relationship with God was confused. Apparently they believed that he needed/desired such sacrifices and that offering them would ensure their prosperity. But the Lord owns all the animals of the world and did not need Israel’s meager sacrifices (vv. 9-13). Other aspects of the relationship were more important to the Lord. He desired Israel to be thankful for his blessings (v. 14a), to demonstrate gratitude for his intervention by repaying the vows they made to him (v. 14b), and to acknowledge their absolute dependence on him (v. 15a). Rather than viewing their sacrifices as somehow essential to God’s well-being, they needed to understand their dependence on him.

[50:16]  ³ 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, rÿsha’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).

[50:16]  ⁴ 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).

[50:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “and throw my words behind you.”

[50:18]  ⁶ tn Heb “you run with him.”

[50:18]  ⁷ tn Heb “and with adulterers [is] your portion.”

[50:19]  ⁸ tn Heb “your mouth you send with evil.”

[50:19]  ⁹ tn Heb “and your tongue binds together [i.e., “frames”] deceit.”

[50:20]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “you sit, against your brother you speak.” To “sit” and “speak” against someone implies plotting against that person (see Ps 119:23).

[50:20]  ¹¹ tn Heb “against the son of your mother you give a fault.”

[50:21]  ¹² tn Heb “these things you did and I was silent.” Some interpret the second clause (“and I was silent”) as a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer, “[When you do these things], should I keep silent?” (cf. NEB). See GKC 335 §112.cc.

[50:21]  ¹³ tn The Hebrew infinitive construct (הֱיוֹת, heyot) appears to function like the infinitive absolute here, adding emphasis to the following finite verbal form (אֶהְיֶה, ’ehyeh). See GKC 339-40 §113.a. Some prefer to emend הֱיוֹת (heyot) to the infinitive absolute form הָיוֹ (hayo).

[50:21]  ¹⁴ tn Or “rebuke” (see v. 8).

[50:21]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “and I will set in order [my case against you] to your eyes.” The cohortative form expresses the Lord’s resolve to accuse and judge the wicked.