Psalms 50

1 God, the all-powerful one, speaks; he summons all people, from the east to the west.

[A Psalm by Asaph.] The Mighty One, God, YHWH, speaks, and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

2 His glory shines from Zion [Hill in Jerusalem], an extremely beautiful city.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.

3 Our God comes to us, and he is not silent. A great fire is in front of him, and a storm is around him.

Our God comes, and does not keep silent. A fire devours before him. It is very stormy around him.

4 He comes to judge his people. He shouts to the [angels in] heaven and to [the people on] the earth.

He calls to the heavens above, to the earth, that he may judge his people:

5 He says, “Summon those who faithfully [worship] me, those who made an agreement with me by offering sacrifices to me.”

"Gather my faithful ones together to me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

6 The [angels in] heaven declare, “God is righteous, and he is the supreme judge.”

The heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. (Selah)

7 God says, “My people, listen! You Israeli people, listen, as I, your God, say what you have done that is wrong.

"Hear, my people, and I will speak; Israel, and I will testify against you. I am God, your God.

8 I am not rebuking you for making sacrifices to me, for the offerings that you completely burn [on the altar].

I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are continually before me.

9 But I do not really need [you to sacrifice] the bulls from your barns and the goats from your pens,

I have no need for a bull from your stall, nor male goats from your pens.

10 because all the animals in the forest belong to me, [and all] the cattle on 1,000 hills also belong to me.

For every animal of the forest is mine, and the livestock on a thousand hills.

11 I [own and] know all the birds and all [the creatures] that move around in the fields.

I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are mine.

12 [So], if I were hungry, I would not tell you [to bring me some food], because everything in the world belongs to me!

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

13 I do not eat the flesh of the bulls [that you sacrifice], and I do not drink the blood of the goats [that you offer to me].

Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

14 The sacrifice [that I really want is that] you thank me and do all that you have promised to do.

Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.

15 And pray to me when you have troubles. [If you do that], I will rescue you, and [then] you will praise me.

Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

16 But I say this to the wicked people: (Why do you/It does not benefit you at all to) [RHQ] recite my commandments or talk about the agreement that I made with you,

But to the wicked God says, "What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips,

17 because you have refused to allow me to discipline you, and you have rejected what I told you to do.

seeing you hate instruction, and throw my words behind you?

18 Every time that you see a thief, you become his friend, and you spend [much] time with those who commit adultery.

When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers.

19 You are [always] talking [MTY] about doing wicked things, and you are [always] to deceive people.

"You give your mouth to evil. Your tongue frames deceit.

20 You are always accusing members of your own family [of doing wrong], and slandering them.

You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother's son.

21 You did [all] those things, and I did not say anything to you, [so] you thought that I was [a sinner] just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you, right in front of you.

You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.

22 So, all you who have ignored me, pay attention to this, because if you do not, I will tear you to pieces, and there will be no one to rescue you.

"Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you into pieces, and there be none to deliver.

23 The sacrifice that [truly] honors me is to thank me [for what I have done]; and I will save those who always do the things that I want them to.”

Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me; and to him who orders his conduct I will show the salvation of God."