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 Lord, the Almighty God, speaks! He summons everyone on earth, from the east to the west.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
God shines out of Mount Zion, perfect in beauty.
3 Our God approaches and will not be silent! Consuming fire precedes Him, and a tempest rages around Him.
Our God arrives, and does not stay quiet. Fire flames before him, burning everything up; a violent storm rages around him.
4 He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that He may judge His people:
He summons the heavens above and the earth to witness the judgment of his people.
5 “Gather to Me My saints, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
“Bring me those who trust in me—those who confirmed the agreement with me through sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens proclaim His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge.
The heavens declare his decisions are right, 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.
“My people, listen to what I have to say. I am bringing charges against you, Israel. I am God, your God!
8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings are ever before Me.
I'm not complaining about your sacrifices or burnt offerings that you offer all the time.
9 I have no need for a bull from your stall or goats from your pens,
I do not require bulls from your barns or goats from your pens,
10 for every beast of the forest is Mine— the cattle on a thousand hills.
for I own all the animals of the forest, and the cattle on a thousand hills belong to me.
11 I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine.
I know every bird of the mountains; all living things in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.
If I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you, for the earth and everything in it are mine.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
Give an offering of thanks to God; keep the promises you made to the Most High,
15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
and call on me when you're in trouble. I will rescue you, and you will thank 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 wicked God says, “What's the point of mechanically repeating my laws or making empty promises about obeying the agreement?
17 For you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you.
You hate my discipline, and you toss my words away, leaving them behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you befriend him, and throw in your lot with adulterers.
When you see people stealing, you admire them; you associate with adulterers.
19 You unleash your mouth for evil and unharness your tongue for deceit.
With your mouth you say evil things; you use your tongue to spread lies.
20 You sit and malign your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.
You sit there and speak against your brother, slandering your own 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.
I kept quiet when you did these things. You thought I was someone just like you. But now I confront you, and bring my charges against you.
22 Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
Think again, you people who dismiss God, or I will tear you apart, and no-one will be able to save you.
23 He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and to him who rights his way, I will show the salvation of God.”
But those who give an offering of thanks honor me, and to those who follow the right I will show them the salvation of God.”
