Psalms 50

1 A PSALM OF ASAPH. The God of gods—YHWH—has spoken, And He calls to the earth From the rising of the sun to its going in.

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

2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shone.

God shines out of Mount Zion, perfect in beauty.

3 Our God comes, and is not silent, Fire devours before Him, And around Him it has been very tempestuous.

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

4 He calls to the heavens from 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 My saints to Me, Making covenant with Me over a 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 Himself is judging. (Selah)

The heavens declare his decisions are right, for God himself is the judge. (Selah)

7 Hear, O My people, and I speak, O Israel, and I testify against you, God—I [am] your God.

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

8 I do not reprove you for your sacrifices, Indeed, your burnt-offerings [Are] continually before Me.

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

9 I do not take a bullock from your house, [Or] male goats from your folds.

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

10 For every beast of the forest [is] Mine, The livestock on the hills of oxen.

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

11 I have known every bird of the mountains, And the wild beast of the field [is] with Me.

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

12 If I am hungry I do not tell [it] to you, For the world and its fullness [is] Mine.

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, And drink the blood of male goats?

Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

14 Sacrifice to God confession, And complete your vows to the Most High.

Give an offering of thanks to God; keep the promises you made to the Most High,

15 And call Me in a day of adversity, I deliver you, and you honor Me.

and call on me when you're in trouble. I will rescue you, and you will thank me.”

16 And to the wicked God has said: What to you—to recount My statutes? That you lift up My covenant on your 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 Indeed, you have hated instruction, And cast My words behind you.

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

18 If you have seen a thief, Then you are pleased with him, And your portion [is] with adulterers.

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

19 You have sent forth your mouth with evil, And your tongue joins deceit together,

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

20 You sit, you speak against your brother, You give slander against a son of your mother.

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

21 These you did, and I kept silent, You have thought that I am like you, I reprove you, and set in array before your 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 understand this, You who are forgetting God, Lest I tear, and there is no deliverer.

Think again, you people who dismiss God, or I will tear you apart, and no-one will be able to save you.

23 He who is sacrificing praise honors Me, As for him who makes a way, I cause him to look on 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.”