< Psalms 50 >
1 A psalm for Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: and he hath called the earth. From the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof:
[A Psalm by Asaph.] The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks, and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
3 God shall come manifestly: our God shall come, and shall not keep silence. A fire shall burn before him: and a mighty tempest shall be round about him.
Our God comes, and does not keep silent. A fire devours before him. It is very stormy around him.
4 He shall call heaven from above, and the earth, to judge his people.
He calls to the heavens above, to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 Gather ye together his saints to him: who set his covenant before sacrifices.
"Gather my faithful ones together to me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
6 And the heavens shall declare his justice: for God is judge.
The heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. (Selah)
7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak: O Israel, and I will testify to thee: I am God, thy God.
"Hear, my people, and I will speak; Israel, and I will testify against you. I am God, your God.
8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices: and thy burnt offerings are always in my sight.
I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9 I will not take calves out of thy house: nor he goats out of thy flocks.
I have no need for a bull from your stall, nor male goats from your pens.
10 For all the beasts of the woods are mine: the cattle on the hills, and the oxen.
For every animal of the forest is mine, and the livestock on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the fowls of the air: and with me is the beauty of the field.
I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are mine.
12 If I should be hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Shall I eat the flesh of bullocks? or shall I drink the blood of goats?
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer to God the sacrifice of praise: and pay thy vows to the most High.
Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.
15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
16 But to the sinner God hath said: Why dost thou declare my justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth?
But to the wicked God says, "What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips,
17 Seeing thou hast hated discipline: and hast cast my words behind thee.
seeing you hate instruction, and throw my words behind you?
18 If thou didst see a thief thou didst run with him: and with adulterers thou hast been a partaker.
When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers.
19 Thy mouth hath abounded with evil, and thy tongue framed deceits.
"You give your mouth to evil. Your tongue frames deceit.
20 Sitting thou didst speak against thy brother, and didst lay a scandal against thy mother’s son:
You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother's son.
21 These things hast thou done, and I was silent. Thou thoughtest unjustly that I should be like to thee: but I will reprove thee, and set before thy face.
You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.
22 Understand these things, you that forget God; lest he snatch you away, and there be none to deliver you.
"Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you into pieces, and there be none to deliver.
23 The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me: and there is the way by which I will shew him the salvation of God.
Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me; and to him who orders his conduct I will show the salvation of God."