Verse

Psalm 50:16

ESV But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips?
NIV But to the wicked person, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?
NASB But to the wicked God says, 'What right do you have to tell of My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth?
CSB But God says to the wicked: "What right do you have to recite my statutes and to take my covenant on your lips?
NLT But God says to the wicked: 'Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant?
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?
NKJV But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth,

What does Psalm 50:16 mean?

In the prior section, God noted that Israel performed required sacrifices (Psalm 50:8), but He rejected them (Psalm 50:9). The Lord began by noting that He did not "need" to be given what was already His (Psalm 50:10–13). The sacrifices were hollow, rather than sincere (Psalm 50:14–15). Now, God expands His complaint by comparing Israel's depraved conduct to their claims about a covenant relationship.

This passage follows a biblical pattern of rebuking religious dishonesty. Later verses note the sins in which Israel was wallowing (Psalm 50:17–21). To act in such ways, while hypocritically saying they were God's people, was especially offensive. Jesus brought a very personal application to this idea. He frequently scolded the religious leaders of His era for following God only "with their lips, but their heart is far from me" (Matthew 15:8, quoting Isaiah 29:13). It is hypocritical to have a mouth full of Scripture but a heart full of sin. The apostle Peter opposed hypocrisy along with sins like jealousy and slander (1 Peter 2:1). James describes heavenly wisdom as "impartial and sincere" (James 3:17).

Asaph wrote this psalm (Psalm 50:1), and expressed frustration with his own culture in other songs (Psalm 73:2–3; 74:10).
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