Psalms 50

1 A Psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from where the sun rises to where it sets.

A Psalm. Of Asaph. The God of gods, even the Lord, has sent out his voice, and the earth is full of fear; from the coming up of the sun to its going down.

2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.

From Zion, most beautiful of places, God has sent out his light.

3 Our God approaches and will not be silent! Consuming fire precedes Him, and a tempest rages around Him.

Our God will come, and will not keep quiet; with fire burning before him, and storm-winds round him.

4 He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that He may judge His people:

His voice will go out to the heavens and to the earth, for the judging of his people:

5 “Gather to Me My saints, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

Let my saints come together to me; those who have made an agreement with me by offerings.

6 And the heavens proclaim His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge.

And let the heavens make clear his righteousness; for God himself is the judge. (Selah)

7 “Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.

Give ear, O my people, to my words; O Israel, I will be a witness against you; I am God, even your God.

8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings are ever before Me.

I will not take up a cause against you because of your offerings, or because of your burned offerings, which are ever before me.

9 I have no need for a bull from your stall or goats from your pens,

I will take no ox out of your house, or he-goats from your flocks;

10 for every beast of the forest is Mine— the cattle on a thousand hills.

For every beast of the woodland is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.

11 I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine.

I see all the birds of the mountains, and the beasts of the field are mine.

12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.

If I had need of food, I would not give you word of it; for the earth is mine and all its wealth.

13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

Am I to take the flesh of the ox for my food, or the blood of goats for my drink?

14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.

Make an offering of praise to God; keep the agreements which you have made with the Most High;

15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”

Let your voice come up to me in the day of trouble; I will be your saviour, so that you may give glory to me.

16 To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?

But to the sinner, God says, What are you doing, talking of my laws, or taking the words of my agreement in your mouth?

17 For you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you.

Seeing that you have no desire for my teaching, turning your back on my words.

18 When you see a thief, you befriend him, and throw in your lot with adulterers.

When you saw a thief, you were in agreement with him, and you were joined with those who took other men's wives.

19 You unleash your mouth for evil and unharness your tongue for deceit.

You have given your mouth to evil, your tongue to words of deceit.

20 You sit and malign your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.

You say evil of your brother; you make false statements against your mother's son.

21 You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face.

These things have you done, and I said nothing; it seemed to you that I was such a one as yourself; but I will make a protest against you, and put them in order before your eyes.

22 Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:

Now keep this in mind, you who have no memory of God, for fear that you may be crushed under my hand, with no one to give you help:

23 He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and to him who rights his way, I will show the salvation of God.”

Whoever makes an offering of praise gives glory to me; and to him who is upright in his ways I will make clear the salvation of God.