Psalms 50

1 A Psalm for Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord, has spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun to the going down [thereof].

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

2 Out of Sion [comes] the excellence of his beauty.

From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.

3 God, our God, shall come manifestly, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall be kindled before him, and round about him there shall be a very great tempest.

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

4 He shall summon the heaven above, and the earth, that he may judge his people.

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

5 Assemble you his saints to him, those that have engaged in a covenant with him upon sacrifices.

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

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge. (Pause)

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

7 Hear, my people, and I will speak to you, O Israel: and I will testify to you: I am God, your God.

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

8 I will not reprove you on account of your sacrifices; for your whole burnt offerings are before me continually.

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

9 I will take no bullocks out of your house, nor he-goats out of your flocks.

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

10 For all the wild beasts of the thicket are mine, the cattle on the mountains, and oxen.

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

11 I know all the birds of the sky; and the beauty of the field is mine.

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

12 If I should be hungry, I will not tell you: for the world is mine, and the fullness of it.

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

13 Will 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 Offer to God the sacrifice of praise; and pay your vows to the Most High.

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

15 And call upon me in the day of affliction; and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. (Pause)

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

16 But to the sinner God has said, Why do you declare my ordinances, and take up my covenant in your mouth?

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

17 Whereas you have hated instruction, and have cast my words behind [you].

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

18 If you saw a thief, you ran along with him, and have cast in your lot with adulterers.

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

19 Your mouth has multiplied wickedness, and your tongue has framed deceit.

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

20 You did sit and speak against your brother, and did scandalize your mother's son.

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

21 These things you did, and I kept silence: you thought wickedly that I should be like you, [but] I will reprove you, and set [your offences] before you.

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.

22 Now consider these things, you that forget God, lest he rend [you], and there is no deliverer.

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

23 The sacrifice of praise will glorify me: and that is the way wherein I will show to him the salvation of God.

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