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Psalm 50:16 To the wicked, however, God says, "What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?
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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad16.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/50-15.htm" title="Psalm 50:15">◄</a> Psalm 50:16 <a href="/psalms/50-17.htm" title="Psalm 50:17">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/50.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/50.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />But to the wicked person, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/50.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But God says to the wicked: “Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/50.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/50.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/50.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or <i>that</i> thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/50.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But to the wicked God says: “What <i>right</i> have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/50.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But to the wicked God says, “What <i>right</i> do you have to tell of My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/50.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />But to the wicked God says, “What right have you to tell of My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/50.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />But to the wicked God says, “What right have you to tell of My statutes, And to take My covenant in your mouth?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/50.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But to the wicked God says, “What right have you to recount My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/50.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite My statutes Or to take My covenant on your lips?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/50.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But God says to the wicked: “What right do you have to recite my statutes and to take my covenant on your lips?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/50.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But God says to the wicked:” What right do you have to recite My statutes and to take My covenant on your lips? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/50.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />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,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/50.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But to the wicked I say: "You don't have the right to mention my laws or claim to keep our agreement! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/50.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />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?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/50.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />But God says to wicked people, "How dare you quote my decrees and mouth my promises! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/50.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But God says to the wicked, "Why should you recite my commandments? Why should you talk about my covenant? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/50.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />As for the wicked, God says, "How dare you recite my statutes or speak about my covenant with your lips!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/50.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />To the wicked, however, God says, ?What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/50.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />God says this to the evildoer: "How can you declare my commands, and talk about my covenant? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/50.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But to the wicked God says, "What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/50.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />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?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/50.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />But to the wicked God says, “What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/50.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And to the wicked God has said: What to you—to recount My statutes? That you lift up My covenant on your mouth?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/50.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And to the wicked hath God said: What to thee -- to recount My statutes? That thou liftest up My covenant on thy mouth?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/50.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And to the unjust one God said, What to thee to recount my law, and thou wilt lift up my covenant upon thy mouth?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/50.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But to the sinner God hath said: Why dost thou declare my justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth ? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/50.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 49:16>But to the sinner, God has said: Why do you discourse on my justices, and take up my covenant through your mouth?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/50.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But to the wicked God says: “Why do you recite my commandments and profess my covenant with your mouth? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/50.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes, or take my covenant on your lips?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/50.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But to the sinner, God says, How have you followed the books of my law? You have observed my covenant lightly,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/50.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />God says to the sinner, "What business do you have with The Books of my Commandments, that you have taken my Covenant in your mouth?"<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/50.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />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?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/50.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />But to the sinner God has said, Why dost thou declare my ordinances, and take up my covenant in thy mouth?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/50-16.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=5961" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/50.htm">The Mighty One Calls</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">15</span>Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” <span class="reftext">16</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/7563.htm" title="7563: wə·lā·rā·šā‘ (Conj-w, Prep-l, Art:: Adj-ms) -- Wicked, criminal. From rasha'; morally wrong; concretely, an bad person.">To the wicked, however,</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">God</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ā·mar (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">says,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: mah- (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">“What right</a> <a href="/hebrew/lə·ḵā (Prep:: 2ms) -- ">have you</a> <a href="/hebrew/5608.htm" title="5608: lə·sap·pêr (Prep-l:: V-Piel-Inf) -- To count, recount, relate. ">to recite</a> <a href="/hebrew/2706.htm" title="2706: ḥuq·qāy (N-mpc:: 1cs) -- Something prescribed or owed, a statute. From chaqaq; an enactment; hence, an appointment.">My statutes</a> <a href="/hebrew/5375.htm" title="5375: wat·tiś·śā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2ms) -- Or nacah ('abad); a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. And rel.">and to bear</a> <a href="/hebrew/1285.htm" title="1285: ḇə·rî·ṯî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- A covenant. From barah (like bara'); a compact.">My covenant</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ă·lê- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/6310.htm" title="6310: p̄î·ḵā (N-msc:: 2ms) -- Mouth. From pa'ah; the mouth, whether literal or figurative; specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially according to.">your lips?</a> </span><span class="reftext">17</span>For you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-21.htm">Matthew 7:21-23</a></span><br />Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. / Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ / Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-27.htm">Matthew 23:27-28</a></span><br />Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/2-21.htm">Romans 2:21-23</a></span><br />you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? / You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? / You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/1-22.htm">James 1:22-25</a></span><br />Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. / For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-13.htm">Isaiah 29:13</a></span><br />Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/33-31.htm">Ezekiel 33:31-32</a></span><br />So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. / Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/15-8.htm">Matthew 15:8-9</a></span><br />‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-46.htm">Luke 6:46</a></span><br />Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/titus/1-16.htm">Titus 1:16</a></span><br />They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-9.htm">Jeremiah 7:9-11</a></span><br />Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, / and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’? / Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Yes, I too have seen it, declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/2-4.htm">1 John 2:4</a></span><br />If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/48-1.htm">Isaiah 48:1</a></span><br />“Listen to this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, who have descended from the line of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD, who invoke the God of Israel—but not in truth or righteousness—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/3-11.htm">Micah 3:11</a></span><br />Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/12-34.htm">Matthew 12:34-37</a></span><br />You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. / The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. / But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/2-1.htm">Romans 2:1-3</a></span><br />You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. / And we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. / So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But to the wicked God said, What have you to do to declare my statutes, or that you should take my covenant in your mouth?</p><p class="hdg">wicked</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/48-22.htm">Isaiah 48:22</a></b></br> <i>There is</i> no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/55-6.htm">Isaiah 55:6,7</a></b></br> Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/18-27.htm">Ezekiel 18:27</a></b></br> Again, when the wicked <i>man</i> turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.</p><p class="hdg">What</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/26-7.htm">Proverbs 26:7</a></b></br> The legs of the lame are not equal: so <i>is</i> a parable in the mouth of fools.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/1-11.htm">Isaiah 1:11-15</a></b></br> To what purpose <i>is</i> the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/48-1.htm">Isaiah 48:1,2</a></b></br> Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, <i>but</i> not in truth, nor in righteousness… </p><p class="hdg">thou shouldest</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/25-14.htm">Psalm 25:14</a></b></br> The secret of the LORD <i>is</i> with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/78-36.htm">Psalm 78:36-38</a></b></br> Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/20-37.htm">Ezekiel 20:37,38</a></b></br> And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/50-5.htm">Agreement</a> <a href="/psalms/50-5.htm">Covenant</a> <a href="/psalms/50-6.htm">Declare</a> <a href="/psalms/45-2.htm">Lips</a> <a href="/psalms/49-3.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/psalms/45-1.htm">Recite</a> <a href="/psalms/48-13.htm">Recount</a> <a href="/psalms/48-10.htm">Right</a> <a href="/job/41-4.htm">Shouldest</a> <a href="/psalms/39-1.htm">Sinner</a> <a href="/psalms/19-8.htm">Statutes</a> <a href="/psalms/41-7.htm">Talking</a> <a href="/psalms/49-5.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/psalms/50-7.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/50-18.htm">Agreement</a> <a href="/psalms/55-20.htm">Covenant</a> <a href="/psalms/51-15.htm">Declare</a> <a href="/psalms/51-15.htm">Lips</a> <a href="/psalms/50-19.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/exodus/17-14.htm">Recite</a> <a href="/psalms/59-12.htm">Recount</a> <a href="/psalms/51-4.htm">Right</a> <a href="/psalms/130-3.htm">Shouldest</a> <a href="/psalms/71-4.htm">Sinner</a> <a href="/psalms/78-5.htm">Statutes</a> <a href="/psalms/71-17.htm">Talking</a> <a href="/psalms/55-3.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/psalms/50-17.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 50</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/50-1.htm">The majesty of God in the church</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/50-5.htm">His order to gather his saints</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/50-7.htm">The pleasure of God is not in ceremonies</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/50-14.htm">but in sincerity of obedience</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/50.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/50.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>To the wicked, however, God says,</b><br>This phrase introduces a direct address from God to the wicked, setting a tone of divine authority and judgment. In biblical context, "the wicked" often refers to those who live in opposition to God's laws and righteousness. This address is reminiscent of prophetic literature where God speaks directly to His people or their leaders, such as in Isaiah or Jeremiah. The use of "however" indicates a contrast with the preceding verses, which discuss the righteous. This distinction highlights the separation between those who follow God and those who merely pretend to.<p><b>“What right have you to recite My statutes</b><br>Here, God questions the legitimacy of the wicked's claim to His laws. The term "statutes" refers to the decrees and commandments given by God, particularly those found in the Torah. This echoes the theme found in the prophets, such as in <a href="/isaiah/29-13.htm">Isaiah 29:13</a>, where God criticizes those who honor Him with their lips but whose hearts are far from Him. The rhetorical question implies that the wicked have no genuine relationship with God, despite their outward appearance of religiosity.<p><b>and to bear My covenant on your lips?</b><br>The "covenant" refers to the sacred agreement between God and His people, initially established with figures like Abraham and Moses. To "bear" the covenant on one's lips suggests speaking or teaching it, which implies a position of authority or influence. This phrase critiques those who speak of God's covenant without living in accordance with it, similar to the Pharisees whom Jesus rebuked in the Gospels for their hypocrisy (<a href="/matthew/23-27.htm">Matthew 23:27-28</a>). The covenant is not merely a set of rules but a relationship requiring faithfulness and obedience, which the wicked fail to uphold.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The speaker in this verse, addressing the wicked. God is portrayed as the ultimate judge and authority over His statutes and covenant.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wicked.htm">The Wicked</a></b><br>Those who are being addressed by God. In the context of this Psalm, the wicked are those who outwardly profess God's laws but do not live by them.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/statutes_and_covenant.htm">Statutes and Covenant</a></b><br>Refers to God's laws and the sacred agreement between God and His people. The wicked are criticized for reciting these without true adherence.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/a/asaph.htm">Asaph</a></b><br>The author of <a href="/bsb/psalms/50.htm">Psalm 50</a>, a Levite and one of the leaders of David's choir, who is traditionally credited with writing this Psalm.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The primary audience of the Psalm, representing God's chosen people who are expected to live according to His statutes and covenant.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/a/authentic_faith.htm">Authentic Faith</a></b><br>True faith is demonstrated through actions, not just words. It is not enough to merely recite God's statutes; we must live by them.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/self-examination.htm">Self-Examination</a></b><br>Regularly examine your life to ensure that your actions align with your professed beliefs. Are you living out the statutes you recite?<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_hypocrisy.htm">The Danger of Hypocrisy</a></b><br>Hypocrisy in faith can lead to spiritual blindness and judgment. Strive for integrity in your walk with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_covenant.htm">The Importance of Covenant</a></b><br>Understand the seriousness of God's covenant. It is a sacred agreement that requires commitment and obedience.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_righteous_judgment.htm">God's Righteous Judgment</a></b><br>God sees beyond outward appearances and judges the heart. Seek to cultivate a heart that is genuinely aligned with His will.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_50.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 50</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/main_themes_of_psalms.htm">What are the main themes of the Psalms?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_psalm_89_34_consistent.htm">Psalm 89:34 insists God will never break His covenant, yet the psalmist laments the downfall of David's lineage--how could this be seen as consistent?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_can_david_claim_blamelessness.htm">(2 Samuel 22:21-25) How can David claim blamelessness here when other passages (e.g., 2 Samuel 11) describe serious moral failures?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_reconcile_psalm_81_13-14_with_defeats.htm">In Psalm 81:13-14, how can we reconcile God's promise to subdue Israel's enemies with historical records of Israel's defeats?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/50.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(16) <span class= "bld">But.</span>--The psalm here turns to address a worse class, those who, while undisguisedly wicked, shelter themselves under the name of the covenant.<p><span class= "bld">What hast thou to do?</span>--<span class= "ital">i.e., how darest thou?</span><p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/50.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 16-21.</span> - While even the more godly among the Israelites have been thus, to a certain extent, reproved (vers. 8-14), the psalmist now addresses to the ungodly, the open and wilful transgressors, a far sterner rebuke. They claim the privileges of God's covenanted servants (ver. 16), but perform none of the duties (vers. 17-20), thus bringing down upon themselves a terrible menace. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 16.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">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?</span> The wicked assumed that they were true Israelites. They were familiar with the words of God's statutes, and with the terms of the covenant. They claimed the right of enforcing them against others (<a href="/romans/2-18.htm">Romans 2:18-20</a>), while in their own persons they set them at nought (vers. 18-20). God declares that they have no right to assume to be teachers of others until they have taught themselves - they are unfit even to "take his covenant in their mouth." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/50-16.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">To the wicked, however,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלָ֤רָשָׁ֨ע ׀</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lā·rā·šā‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7563.htm">Strong's 7563: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wrong, an, bad person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">God</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהִ֗ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">says,</span><br /><span class="heb">אָ֘מַ֤ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·mar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“What right</span><br /><span class="heb">מַה־</span> <span class="translit">(mah-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">What?, what!, indefinitely what</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have you</span><br /><span class="heb">לְּ֭ךָ</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">to recite</span><br /><span class="heb">לְסַפֵּ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(lə·sap·pêr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5608.htm">Strong's 5608: </a> </span><span class="str2">To count, recount, relate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">My statutes</span><br /><span class="heb">חֻקָּ֑י</span> <span class="translit">(ḥuq·qāy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2706.htm">Strong's 2706: </a> </span><span class="str2">Something prescribed or owed, a statute</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and to bear</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתִּשָּׂ֖א</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tiś·śā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5375.htm">Strong's 5375: </a> </span><span class="str2">To lift, carry, take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">My covenant</span><br /><span class="heb">בְרִיתִ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(ḇə·rî·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1285.htm">Strong's 1285: </a> </span><span class="str2">A covenant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲלֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·lê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your lips?</span><br /><span class="heb">פִֽיךָ׃</span> <span class="translit">(p̄î·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6310.htm">Strong's 6310: </a> </span><span class="str2">The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/50-16.htm">Psalm 50:16 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/50-16.htm">Psalm 50:16 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/50-16.htm">Psalm 50:16 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/50-16.htm">Psalm 50:16 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/50-16.htm">Psalm 50:16 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/50-16.htm">Psalm 50:16 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/50-16.htm">Psalm 50:16 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/50-16.htm">Psalm 50:16 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/50-16.htm">Psalm 50:16 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/50-16.htm">Psalm 50:16 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/50-16.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 50:16 But to the wicked God says What (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/50-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 50:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 50:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/50-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 50:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 50:17" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>