Psalm 50 19

Psalm 50:19 kjv

Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

Psalm 50:19 nkjv

You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames deceit.

Psalm 50:19 niv

You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.

Psalm 50:19 esv

"You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.

Psalm 50:19 nlt

Your mouth is filled with wickedness,
and your tongue is full of lies.

Psalm 50 verses

Psalm 50 19 Meaning

Psalm 50:19 is an indictment against the wicked who claim to follow God but whose speech betrays their corrupt hearts. It describes their intentional use of language for malicious purposes, allowing their mouth to utter evil and actively devising deceitful words. This verse highlights the deep moral failing that stands in stark contrast to true worship.

Psalm 50 19 Context

Psalm 50 portrays God as a cosmic judge, summoning both heaven and earth as witnesses to His case against His own people, Israel. He convenes a divine court not to demand more sacrifices, but to expose their hypocrisy. The first section (vv. 7-15) addresses the outwardly religious but misunderstanding Israel, explaining that God desires not external rituals for His own benefit, but thanksgiving and fulfillment of vows. The second section (vv. 16-21), where verse 19 falls, is a scathing rebuke to the "wicked" who verbally profess God's law (vv. 16-17) yet flagrantly violate its spirit in their actions, particularly concerning their relationships with others and their speech. Verse 19 specifically condemns their malicious and deceptive use of the very instrument (speech) through which they ostensibly declare God's statutes, highlighting the profound moral inconsistency that invalidates their supposed piety. This psalm's setting is one of divine scrutiny over inward truth rather than outward performance.

Psalm 50 19 Word analysis

• You give your mouth (פִּיךָ שָׁלַחְתָּ - Pi-kha shalach-ta):

  • פִּיךָ (Pi-kha): "your mouth." In biblical thought, the mouth (peh) is the primary organ of speech and thus a key expression of the heart's true condition (as seen in Mt 12:34). Its use in the possessive "your" highlights personal agency and direct responsibility for words spoken.
  • שָׁלַחְתָּ (shalach-ta): "you have sent," "you have unleashed," "you have let loose." This verb denotes an intentional act of releasing or deploying. It suggests that the individual chooses to surrender their mouth to evil, implying a deliberate, active assignment of their verbal faculty for wicked purposes, not an accidental slip. It describes a conscious relinquishing of control over speech for destructive ends.

• to evil (בְרָעָה - b'ra'ah):

  • בְרָעָה (b'ra'ah): "with evil," "in wickedness," "to evil." The preposition beth signifies association, direction, or state. Their speech is characterized by, directed towards, or imbued with moral perversity and harmful intent. It points to a deep-seated inclination towards malice.

• and your tongue (וּלְשׁוֹנְךָ - u'l'shon-kha):

  • וּלְשׁוֹנְךָ (u'l'shon-kha): "and your tongue." The tongue (lashon) is the specific organ for articulation and therefore functions synonymously with spoken words, emphasizing their power and effect. The parallel structure with "mouth" reinforces the accusation of corrupt communication, pinpointing the direct action of verbalization in bringing evil to fruition.

• frames deceit (תַּצְמִיד מִרְמָה - tatzmid mirmah):

  • תַּצְמִיד (tatzmid): "you devise," "you fashion," "you make firm," "you fasten closely." From the root צמד (tsamad), meaning "to bind," "to join," or "to adhere." This verb describes a deliberate, painstaking, and intentional crafting. It suggests that the person does not merely utter lies impulsively but carefully constructs, secures, or plots deceitful words with precision. This points to premeditated cunning and sophisticated falsehood, rather than casual or unintended deception.
  • מִרְמָה (mirmah): "deceit," "fraud," "treachery," "trickery." This refers to intentional misleading, harming, or entrapping others through dishonest words or actions. It is a severe form of wickedness, involving a betrayal of trust and an abuse of truth for selfish or malevolent gain.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "You give your mouth to evil": This phrase portrays a conscious decision to employ one's faculty of speech as an instrument of wickedness. It speaks to the agency and culpability of the individual who allows their words to be channeled for destructive or malevolent purposes. This implies a complete disregard for the moral implications of their communication and an active choice to align their speech with malice.
  • "and your tongue frames deceit": This second, parallel clause intensifies the accusation, highlighting the methodical and intentional nature of their verbal misconduct. The image of "framing" or "devising" deceit implies not only speaking lies but deliberately designing intricate falsehoods, schemes, or calumnies. This signifies cunning treachery, demonstrating a heart committed to manipulating and harming others through sophisticated untruths. Both clauses collectively underscore that the problem is not a simple error of speech but a deep-seated perversion of the heart consistently expressed through destructive words.

Psalm 50 19 Bonus section

The close parallelism between "mouth to evil" and "tongue frames deceit" acts as a powerful poetic device, intensifying the accusation and underscoring that both the general capacity for speech and its specific articulation are actively engaged in calculated wickedness. This particular charge regarding speech, situated immediately after accusations of specific moral transgressions (stealing, associating with adulterers in v. 18), emphasizes how speech acts are not trivial but profoundly indicative of a person's inner moral state and an outworking of their character. The divine judgment in Psalm 50 consistently challenges all forms of religious formalism that divorce inner character from outward ritual, firmly asserting that righteous and truthful communication is as integral to genuine worship as any prescribed sacrifice. The psalm's legal courtroom setting frames this accusation as direct testimony from God against the wicked, highlighting their clear culpability and accountability before divine justice.

Psalm 50 19 Commentary

Psalm 50:19 pierces the veneer of religious hypocrisy, exposing the deep moral corruption lurking beneath outward observance. While the individual may formally profess faith or engage in rituals, their heart's true condition is laid bare by their speech. The phrase "you give your mouth to evil" conveys a deliberate act of commissioning one's verbal faculties for malicious ends. This is not an unintentional lapse, but a chosen direction, indicating a will surrendered to wickedness in communication. The further charge, "and your tongue frames deceit," amplifies this, depicting a careful, calculated process of constructing falsehoods and treacherous words. This suggests a manipulative and cunning heart that meticulously designs verbal traps or untruths rather than merely stumbling into them. This profound misuse of speech—an instrument intended for praise, truth, and edification—reveals a fundamental spiritual disconnect, where verbal integrity is sacrificed. God's judgment here highlights that true worship demands not only adherence to statutes but also an transformed heart reflected in truthful and benevolent communication, for words are potent indicators of one's inner alignment and ultimately, one's standing before God.

• Examples for practical usage: A person who rigorously observes religious rituals but routinely spreads gossip or engages in dishonest business practices. A public figure who preaches morality but uses coded language or carefully crafted misrepresentations to undermine opponents or deceive followers. This verse serves as a sober reminder that genuine faith demands integrity of speech, reflecting an authentic transformation of the heart that impacts every utterance.