< Psalms 50 >

1 A psalm of Asaph. The Lord, the Almighty God, speaks! He summons everyone on earth, from the east to the west.
The Mighty One, God, Jehovah, has spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof.
2 God shines out of Mount Zion, perfect in beauty.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth.
3 Our God arrives, and does not stay quiet. Fire flames before him, burning everything up; a violent storm rages around him.
Our God comes, and does not keep silence. A fire devours before him, and it is very tempestuous round about him.
4 He summons the heavens above and the earth to witness the judgment of his people.
He calls to the heavens above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
5 “Bring me those who trust in me—those who confirmed the agreement with me through sacrifice.”
Gather my sanctified together to me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
6 The heavens declare his decisions are right, for God himself is the judge. (Selah)
And the heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God is judge himself. (Selah)
7 “My people, listen to what I have to say. I am bringing charges against you, Israel. I am God, your God!
Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify to thee, I am God, even thy God.
8 I'm not complaining about your sacrifices or burnt offerings that you offer all the time.
I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices, and thy burnt offerings being continually before me.
9 I do not require bulls from your barns or goats from your pens,
I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he-goats out of thy folds.
10 for I own all the animals of the forest, and the cattle on a thousand hills belong to me.
For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird of the mountains; all living things in the fields are mine.
I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you, for the earth and everything in it are mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell thee, for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14 Give an offering of thanks to God; keep the promises you made to the Most High,
Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay thy vows to the Most High.
15 and call on me when you're in trouble. I will rescue you, and you will thank me.”
And call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver thee, and thou shall glorify me.
16 But to the wicked God says, “What's the point of mechanically repeating my laws or making empty promises about obeying the agreement?
But to the wicked man God says, What have thou to do to declare my statutes, and that thou have taken my covenant in thy mouth,
17 You hate my discipline, and you toss my words away, leaving them behind you.
since thou hate instruction, and cast my words behind thee?
18 When you see people stealing, you admire them; you associate with adulterers.
When thou saw a thief, thou consented with him, and have been partaker with adulterers.
19 With your mouth you say evil things; you use your tongue to spread lies.
Thou give thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit there and speak against your brother, slandering your own mother's son.
Thou sit and speak against thy brother; thou slander thine own mother's son.
21 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.
These things thou have done, and I kept silence. Thou thought that I was altogether such a one as thyself. But I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
22 Think again, you people who dismiss God, or I will tear you apart, and no-one will be able to save you.
Now consider this, ye who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver:
23 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.”
Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me. And to him who orders his way aright I will show the salvation of God.

< Psalms 50 >