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.
Read it in contextGod's Judgment and Call to True Worship
Start reading at Psalms 50:1 (Psalms 50:1 to Psalms 50:23).
The entire Psalm 50 forms a unified prophetic discourse from God concerning true worship and judgment, beginning with God's call to the earth and concluding with a warning and a promise.
50:1The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
50:2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
50:3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
50:4He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
50:5Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
50:6And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
50:7Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
50:8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
50:9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
50:10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
50:11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
50:12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
50:13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
50:14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
50:15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
50:16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
50:17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee.
50:18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
50:19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
50:20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.
50:21These 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.
50:22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
50:23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Multiple writers contributed to Psalms, including David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses; some psalms have no named attribution. The traditional Hebrew headings distinguish many of these contributions. Biblical references: Acts 2:25; Acts 4:25. book background
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Psalms 50:1–50:23): God addresses His covenant people, confronting empty worship and wicked conduct. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel's worshipping community, including individuals and assemblies using the psalms for prayer, praise, lament, and instruction. A particular psalm may speak directly to God, to the congregation, or to another group. Biblical references: Psalms 22:22; Psalms 78:1; Psalms 100:1. book background
What
What is the main event or theme? The main theme is God's solemn judgment of His people, particularly the wicked among them. God reveals that He desires sincere worship, thanksgiving, and obedience from the heart over mere ritualistic sacrifices, and He will expose the hypocrisy of those who outwardly profess faith but inwardly practice wickedness.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His absolute sovereignty over all creation, His omniscience (knowing all deeds), and His nature as a righteous judge who will not remain silent forever. He reveals that He is not like man, who can be deceived or influenced by outward show, and that His patience should not be mistaken for approval of sin. He demands genuine devotion and obedience rather than hypocritical religious acts.
What is the literary style? The literary style is Hebrew poetry, specifically a prophetic psalm of judgment. It employs direct address, rhetorical questions, and vivid imagery to convey God's authoritative message.
When
When was it written? This psalm was written as part of the collection of Psalms, which were assembled between approximately 1400 B.C. and 450 B.C.
When does the event take place? The psalm describes a future divine judgment where God will come in power and not keep silence, judging His people. It also addresses the ongoing spiritual state and actions of the wicked in the present time.
Where
Where did it happen? God speaks 'Out of Zion,' and calls the earth 'from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof' to witness His judgment. The judgment itself is universal in scope.
Where was the author located? The author, Asaph, was located in Israel.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in God's Judgment and Call to True Worship (Psalms 50:1 to Psalms 50:23).
Start reading at Psalms 50:1. The entire Psalm 50 forms a unified prophetic discourse from God concerning true worship and judgment, beginning with God's call to the earth and concluding with a warning and a promise.
How
How does it fit the broader context? Psalms 50:21 is the climax of God's direct rebuke to the wicked (Psalms 50:16-20). It explains *why* God is now speaking out: He had kept silence while they committed these sins, leading them to falsely assume He was indifferent or approved of their hypocrisy. Now, He declares He will reprove them and expose their deeds, setting them in order before their eyes. This sets up the final warning and promise in Psalms 50:22-23, emphasizing the consequences of forgetting God versus offering praise and ordering one's conversation aright. stated in the text
How does it point to Christ? This passage points to Christ as the ultimate righteous Judge who will come in power and glory, not in silence, to judge both the living and the dead (Psalms 50:3-4). The wicked's misconception of God as 'altogether such an one as thyself' (Psalms 50:21) highlights the need for a perfect mediator and redeemer who truly represents God and reveals His nature, which Christ perfectly does (Exodus 3:14). God's patience, which some mistake for indifference (Romans 2:4-5), ultimately leads to reproof (Revelation 3:19), and Christ is the one who will 'set them in order' (1 Corinthians 4:5). Christ also fulfills the true worship of God, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, making the animal sacrifices obsolete, and calling for worship in spirit and truth (Psalms 50:14, 50:23). interpretation
How do I apply it today? This passage serves as a solemn warning against hypocrisy and a call to genuine faith and obedience. Believers today must not mistake God's patience for approval of sin or assume He is indifferent to their actions. Instead, we are called to offer sincere worship, thanksgiving, and obedience from the heart, knowing that God sees and will ultimately judge every deed, setting all things in order before our eyes (Ecclesiastes 12:14). Our outward religious acts must be accompanied by inward transformation and righteous living. interpretation
David and others, including Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and MosesNamed in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe superscriptions name their writers: David most often, and also Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses. The New Testament quotes psalms as David's words. Psalm 3:1Psalm 90:1Acts 2:25Acts 4:25
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition preserves the superscriptions as ancient.
What is debatedSome scholars regard certain superscriptions as later additions. The collection was assembled over centuries.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Psalms 50
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement. A quoted heading uses the opening KJV words of that stanza; the speaker and the psalm as a whole still govern its meaning.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The second collection continues varied prayers and songs and closes with royal prayer and a doxology; its individual psalms retain distinct voices and occasions.
Connection to the wholeThe second collection continues varied prayers and songs and closes with royal prayer and a doxology; its individual psalms retain distinct voices and occasions.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The second collection continues varied prayers and songs and closes with royal prayer and a doxology; its individual psalms retain distinct voices and occasions.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Psalms
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech.
Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
Connection to the wholeThe second collection continues varied prayers and songs and closes with royal prayer and a doxology; its individual psalms retain distinct voices and occasions.
FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions
Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
Connection to the wholeThese psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.