Psalms 50
1 A Psalm of Asaph. God, God, the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
A psalm of Asaph. The Lord, the Almighty God, speaks! He summons everyone on earth, from the east to the west.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined forth.
God shines out of Mount Zion, perfect in beauty.
3 Our God cometh, and doth not keep silence; a fire devoureth before Him, and round about Him it stormeth mightily.
Our God arrives, and does not stay quiet. Fire flames before him, burning everything up; a violent storm rages around him.
4 He calleth to the heavens above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people:
He summons the heavens above and the earth to witness the judgment of his people.
5 'Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.'
“Bring me those who trust in me—those who confirmed the agreement with me through sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens declare His righteousness; for God, He is judge. (Selah)
The heavens declare his decisions are right, for God himself is the judge. (Selah)
7 'Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: God, thy God, am I.
“My people, listen to what I have to say. I am bringing charges against you, Israel. I am God, your God!
8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices; and thy burnt-offerings are continually before Me.
I'm not complaining about your sacrifices or burnt offerings that you offer all the time.
9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he-goats out of thy folds.
I do not require bulls from your barns or goats from your pens,
10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
for I own all the animals of the forest, and the cattle on a thousand hills belong to me.
11 I know all the fowls of the mountains; and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.
I know every bird of the mountains; all living things in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee; for the world is Mine, and the fulness thereof.
If I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you, for the earth and everything in it are mine.
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 Offer unto God the sacrifice of thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High;
Give an offering of thanks to God; keep the promises you made to the Most High,
15 And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt honour Me.'
and call on me when you're in trouble. I will rescue you, and you will thank me.”
16 But unto the wicked God saith: 'What hast thou to do to declare My statutes, and that thou hast taken My covenant in thy mouth?
But to the wicked God says, “What's the point of mechanically repeating my laws or making empty promises about obeying the agreement?
17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest My words behind thee.
You hate my discipline, and you toss my words away, leaving them behind you.
18 When thou sawest a thief, thou hadst company with him, and with adulterers was thy portion.
When you see people stealing, you admire them; you associate with adulterers.
19 Thou hast let loose thy mouth for evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
With your mouth you say evil things; you use your tongue to spread lies.
20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.
You sit there and speak against your brother, slandering your own mother's son.
21 These things hast thou done, and should I have kept silence? Thou hadst thought that I was altogether such a one as thyself; but I will reprove thee, and set the cause before thine eyes.
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.
22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
Think again, you people who dismiss God, or I will tear you apart, and no-one will be able to save you.
23 Whoso offereth the sacrifice of thanksgiving honoureth Me; and to him that ordereth his way aright will I show the salvation of God.'
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.”
