Psalms 50:18-22

Context

50:18 When you see a thief, you join him;¹

you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives.²

50:19 You do damage with words,³

and use your tongue to deceive.⁴

50:20 You plot against your brother;⁵

you slander your own brother.⁶

50:21 When you did these things, I was silent,⁷

so you thought I was exactly like you.⁸

But now I will condemn⁹ you

and state my case against you!¹⁰

50:22 Carefully consider this, you who reject God!¹¹

Otherwise I will rip you to shreds¹²

and no one will be able to rescue you.

[50:18] ¹tn Heb “you run with him.”

[50:18] ²tn Heb “and with adulterers [is] your portion.”

[50:19] ³tn Heb “your mouth you send with evil.”

[50:19] ⁴tn Heb “and your tongue binds together [i.e., “frames”] deceit.”

[50:20] ⁵tn 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] ⁶tn Heb “against the son of your mother you give a fault.”

[50:21] ⁷tn 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] ⁸tn 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] ⁹tn Or “rebuke” (see v. 8).

[50:21] ¹⁰tn 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.

[50:22] ¹¹tn Heb “[you who] forget God.” “Forgetting God” here means forgetting about his commandments and not respecting his moral authority.

[50:22] ¹²sn Elsewhere in the psalms this verb is used (within a metaphorical framework) of a lion tearing its prey (see Pss 7:2; 17:12; 22:13).