Psalm 50 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
Psalms Chapter 50 Continued
5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
Psalms Chapter 50 (Old Testament)
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.
16 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 casteth my words behind thee.
18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.
21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Biblical Scholar On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 50 |
|---|---|---|
| John Calvin (University of Paris / Orléans, 1509–1564) | Commentaries on the Psalms | Calvin emphasizes that God’s judgment requires sincere worship, not empty ritual. |
| Matthew Henry (Christ Church, Oxford, 1662–1714) | Exposition of the Old and New Testament | Observes that the Psalm warns against hypocrisy and calls for heartfelt obedience. |
| Richard Sibbes (Pembroke College, Cambridge, 1577–1635) | The Bruised Reed | Sibbes notes that God desires gratitude and upright living rather than mere external sacrifices. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | Highlights that this Psalm reveals God as both judge and provider, demanding ethical worship. |
| Thomas Manton (Christ’s College, Cambridge, 1620–1677) | Exposition of the Psalms | Observes the importance of honoring God in all actions and recognizing His sovereignty over creation. |
| Scholar | Paraphrase of the psalm |
|---|---|
| Charles Hodge (Princeton University, 1797–1878, Commentary on the Psalms) | Hodge emphasizes that this psalm teaches God’s judgment and calls the faithful to sincere worship. |
| B.B. Warfield (Princeton University, 1851–1921, Biblical Doctrines) | What does he think? Warfield highlights that the psalm shows God’s authority and the need for obedience in the believer’s life. |
| John Brown (University of Edinburgh, 1810–1882, The Self-Interpreting Bible) | Brown interprets the psalm as a reminder that external rituals are meaningless without true devotion. |
| Alexander Maclaren (University of Manchester, 1826–1910, Expositions of Holy Scripture) | What’s his view? Maclaren sees this psalm as teaching the importance of heart-centered worship over empty sacrifices. |
| F.D. Maurice (King’s College London, 1805–1872, Theological Essays) | Maurice focuses on the psalm as emphasizing God’s justice and the ethical life of believers. |
| John Kitto (University of London, 1804–1854, Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature) | Scholar’s view: Kitto interprets the psalm as showing that God desires obedience and sincerity rather than mere ritual. |
Prayer: Thank You, O God for Who You are, and for your lovingkindness to those who trust in You. Thank You Lord that your blessing is upon those that fear You. Thank You Lord that we glorify You as we praise You and with our right confession and speech You show us Your Salvation. Thank You, Lord, that You are my Salvation and on You I can securely depend. King of glory, show Yourself mighty on our behalf as we place our trust in you, in Jesus' Mighty Name.
