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 of Asaph.” The mighty God, Jehovah, speaketh, and calleth the earth, From the rising of the sun to its going down.
2 God shines out of Mount Zion, perfect in beauty.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shineth 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 cometh, and will not be silent; Before him is a devouring fire, And around him a raging tempest.
4 He summons the heavens above and the earth to witness the judgment of his people.
He calleth to the heavens on high, And to the earth, while he judgeth his people:
5 “Bring me those who trust in me—those who confirmed the agreement with me through sacrifice.”
“Gather together before me my godly ones, 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 it is God himself that 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, O my people, and I will speak! O Israel, and I will testify against thee! For I am God, thine own God.
8 I'm not complaining about your sacrifices or burnt offerings that you offer all the time.
I reprove thee not on account of thy sacrifices; For thy burnt-offerings are ever before me.
9 I do not require bulls from your barns or goats from your pens,
I will take no bullock from thy house, Nor he-goat from thy folds;
10 for I own all the animals of the forest, and the cattle on a thousand hills belong to me.
For all the beasts of the forest are mine, And the cattle on 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 before me.
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 all that is therein.
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 Give an offering of thanks to God; keep the promises you made to the Most High,
Offer to God 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.”
Then call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt 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?
And to the wicked God saith, “To what purpose dost thou talk of my statutes? And why hast thou my laws upon thy lips?—
17 You hate my discipline, and you toss my words away, leaving them behind you.
Thou, who hatest instruction And castest my words behind thee!
18 When you see people stealing, you admire them; you associate with adulterers.
When thou seest a thief, thou art in friendship with him, And hast fellowship with adulterers.
19 With your mouth you say evil things; you use your tongue to spread lies.
Thou lettest loose thy mouth to evil, And thy tongue frameth deceit;
20 You sit there and speak against your brother, slandering your own mother's son.
Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; Thou slanderest 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 hast thou done, and I kept silence; Hence thou thoughtest that I was altogether like thyself: But I will reprove thee, and set it 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.
Mark this, ye that forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, and none deliver you!
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.”
Whoso offereth praise honoreth me; And to him who hath regard to his ways Will I show salvation from God.”
