Psalms 50
1 “A psalm of Assaph.” The God of gods, the Lord, speaketh, and calleth the earth, from the rising of the sun unto his setting.
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 shineth forth.
God shines out of Mount Zion, perfect in beauty.
3 Our God is coming, and will not keep silence: a fire devoureth before him, and round him there rageth a mighty storm.
Our God arrives, and does not stay quiet. Fire flames before him, burning everything up; a violent storm rages around him.
4 He will call to the heavens above, and to the earth, to judge his people.
He summons the heavens above and the earth to witness the judgment of his people.
5 “Gather together unto me my pious servants, who make 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 tell of his righteousness; for God is judge himself. (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 Not because of thy sacrifices will I reprove thee; 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 not take a 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 mine are all the beasts of the forest, the cattle upon a thousand mountains.
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: whatever moveth on the fields is with me.
I know every bird of the mountains; all living things in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not say it to thee; for mine is the world, and what filleth it.
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 fatted bulls, or drink the blood of he-goats?
Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay unto the Most High thy vows;
Give an offering of thanks to God; keep the promises you made to the Most High,
15 And call on me on the day of distress: I will deliver thee, — and so wilt thou glorify 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 relate my statutes, and why bearest thou my covenant upon 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 And yet 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 seest a thief, then art thou pleased with him, and with adulterers hast thou thy portion.
When you see people stealing, you admire them; you associate with adulterers.
19 Thou lettest loose thy mouth with 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; against thy own mother's son thou utterest slander.
You sit there and speak against your brother, slandering your own mother's son.
21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence: thou didst ween that I am like thyself; [but] I will reprove thee, and set it in order before thy 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 Do but reflect on this, ye that forget God, lest I tear [you] in pieces, with 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 thanksgiving glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his course 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.”
