Psalms 50

1 A psalm of Asaph. The Lord, the Almighty God, speaks! He summons everyone on earth, from the east to the west.

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].

2 God shines out of Mount Zion, perfect in beauty.

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

3 Our God arrives, and does not stay quiet. Fire flames before him, burning everything up; a violent storm rages around him.

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.

4 He summons the heavens above and the earth to witness the judgment of his people.

He shall summon the heaven above, and 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.”

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

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. (Pause)

7 “My people, listen to what I have to say. I am bringing charges against you, Israel. I am God, your God!

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

8 I'm not complaining about your sacrifices or burnt offerings that you offer all the time.

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

9 I do not require bulls from your barns or goats from your pens,

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

10 for I own all the animals of the forest, and the cattle on a thousand hills belong to me.

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

11 I know every bird of the mountains; all living things in the fields are mine.

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

12 If I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you, for the earth and everything in it are mine.

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

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 praise; and pay your 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 affliction; and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. (Pause)

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

17 You hate my discipline, and you toss my words away, leaving them behind you.

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

18 When you see people stealing, you admire them; you associate with adulterers.

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

19 With your mouth you say evil things; you use your tongue to spread lies.

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

20 You sit there and speak against your brother, slandering your own mother's son.

You did sit and speak against your brother, and did scandalize your 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 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.

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

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.”

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