Psalms 50:19-21

50:19 You do damage with words, ¹ 

and use your tongue to deceive. ² 

50:20 You plot against your brother; ³ 

you slander your own brother. ⁴ 

50:21 When you did these things, I was silent, ⁵ 

so you thought I was exactly like you. ⁶ 

But now I will condemn ⁷  you

and state my case against you! ⁸ 

Jeremiah 29:23

29:23 This will happen to them because they have done what is shameful ⁹  in Israel. They have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and have spoken lies while claiming my authority. ¹⁰  They have spoken words that I did not command them to speak. I know what they have done. I have been a witness to it,’ says the Lord.” ¹¹ 

Hebrews 4:12-13

4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart. 4:13 And no creature is hidden from God, ¹²  but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

[50:19]  ¹ tn Heb “your mouth you send with evil.”

[50:19]  ² tn Heb “and your tongue binds together [i.e., “frames”] deceit.”

[50:20]  ³ 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]  ⁴ tn Heb “against the son of your mother you give a fault.”

[50:21]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn Or “rebuke” (see v. 8).

[50:21]  ⁸ 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.

[29:23]  ⁹ tn It is commonly assumed that this word is explained by the two verbal actions that follow. The word (נְבָלָה, nÿvalah) is rather commonly used of sins of unchastity (cf., e.g., Gen 34:7; Judg 19:23; 2 Sam 13:12) which would fit the reference to adultery. However, the word is singular and not likely to cover both actions that follow. The word is also used of the greedy act of Achan (Josh 7:15) which threatened Israel with destruction and the churlish behavior of Nabal (1 Sam 25:25) which threatened him and his household with destruction. The word is also used of foolish talk in Isa 9:17 (9:16 HT) and Isa 32:6. It is possible that this refers to a separate act, one that would have brought the death penalty from Nebuchadnezzar, i.e., the preaching of rebellion in conformity with the message of the false prophets in Jerusalem and other nations (cf. 27:9, 13). Hence it is possible that the translation should read: “This will happen because of their vile conduct. They have propagated rebellion. They have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives. They have spoken words that I did not command them to speak. They have spoken lies while claiming my authority.”

[29:23]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “prophesying lies in my name.” For an explanation of this idiom see the study notes on 14:14 and 23:27.

[29:23]  ¹¹ tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”

[4:13]  ¹² tn Grk “him”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.