Psalms 50:16

14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

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?

17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?
KJV
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?
WEB
But to the wicked God says, “What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips,
ASV
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,
DARBY
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant into thy mouth,
BLB
And to the wicked God says, “What to you [is] to recount My statutes, and to lift up My covenant upon your mouth?
ÅB
Men til den ugudelige sier Gud: Hva har du med å fortelle om mine lover og føre min pakt i din munn?
OTB
Men til den ugudelige erklærer Gud,
“Hva rett har du til å sitere Mine lover
Og å tale om Min pakt?
B1930
Men til den ugudelige sier Gud: Hvad har du med å fortelle om mine lover og føre min pakt i din munn?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 29:13

    Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

    Read in context
  • Psalms 78:36–38

    Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 25:14

    The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 55:6–7

    Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

    Read in context
  • Romans 2:17–24

    Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 8:9

    Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 48:1–2

    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, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 26:7

    The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

    Read in context