What does the chapter actually say?
Identify the explicit claims before importing later doctrine or assumptions.
PSALMS • CHAPTER 50
Psalms 50
Prayer, praise, lament, kingship, justice, suffering, worship, wisdom, anger, hope, and Israel's poetic life with God.
READ THE CHAPTER
Psalms 50
WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE
The complete biblical text below is stored on this website.
You do not need to leave The Bible for Smart People to read it.
1
The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks,
and calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.
and calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.
2
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines out.
God shines out.
3
Our God comes, and does not keep silent.
A fire devours before him.
It is very stormy around him.
A fire devours before him.
It is very stormy around him.
4
He calls to the heavens above,
to the earth, that he may judge his people:
to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5
“Gather my saints together to me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
6
The heavens shall declare his righteousness,
for God himself is judge.
for God himself is judge.
7
“Hear, my people, and I will speak.
Israel, I will testify against you.
I am God, your God.
Israel, I will testify against you.
I am God, your God.
8
I don’t rebuke you for your sacrifices.
Your burnt offerings are continually before me.
Your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9
I have no need for a bull from your stall,
nor male goats from your pens.
nor male goats from your pens.
10
For every animal of the forest is mine,
and the livestock on a thousand hills.
and the livestock on a thousand hills.
11
I know all the birds of the mountains.
The wild animals of the field are mine.
The wild animals of the field are mine.
12
If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13
Will I eat the meat of bulls,
or drink the blood of goats?
or drink the blood of goats?
14
Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
Pay your vows to the Most High.
Pay your vows to the Most High.
15
Call on me in the day of trouble.
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
16
But to the wicked God says,
“What right do you have to declare my statutes,
that you have taken my covenant on your lips,
“What right do you have to declare my statutes,
that you have taken my covenant on your lips,
17
since you hate instruction,
and throw my words behind you?
and throw my words behind you?
18
When you saw a thief, you consented with him,
and have participated with adulterers.
and have participated with adulterers.
19
“You give your mouth to evil.
Your tongue frames deceit.
Your tongue frames deceit.
20
You sit and speak against your brother.
You slander your own mother’s son.
You slander your own mother’s son.
21
You have done these things, and I kept silent.
You thought that I was just like you.
I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.
You thought that I was just like you.
I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.
22
“Now consider this, you who forget God,
lest I tear you into pieces, and there be no one to deliver.
lest I tear you into pieces, and there be no one to deliver.
23
Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me,
and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”
and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”
POETRY
Where this chapter fits
Psalms belongs to Israel's wisdom/poetic tradition, where literary form matters as much as historical setting.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION
You've reached the member analysis.
You can keep reading every Bible chapter on this site for free.
Membership unlocks the deeper analysis, historical context, competing interpretations, perspectives, and conclusion.
WANT TO KEEP READING FOR FREE?
Continue to Psalms 51
The complete biblical text of the next chapter is free to read.
You only need membership when you want the deeper analysis and side-by-side investigation.
READ NEXT CHAPTER FREEUNLOCK THE ANALYSIS
Already a member?
Sign in to continue →