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 for Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: and he hath called the earth. From the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof:

2 God shines out of Mount Zion, perfect in beauty.

Out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty.

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

God shall come manifestly: our God shall come, and shall not keep silence. A fire shall burn before him: and a mighty tempest shall be round about him.

4 He summons the heavens above and the earth to witness the judgment of his people.

He shall call heaven from above, and the earth, to judge his people.

5 “Bring me those who trust in me—those who confirmed the agreement with me through sacrifice.”

Gather ye together his saints to him: who set his covenant before sacrifices.

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

And the heavens shall declare his justice: for God is judge.

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 to thee: I am God, thy God.

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

I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices: and thy burnt offerings are always in my sight.

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

I will not take calves out of thy house: nor he goats out of thy flocks.

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 woods are mine: the cattle on the hills, and the oxen.

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

I know all the fowls of the air: and with me is the beauty of the field.

12 If I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you, for the earth and everything in it are mine.

If I should be hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

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

Shall I eat the flesh of bullocks? or shall I 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 the sacrifice of praise: 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.”

And 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?

But to the sinner God hath said: Why dost thou declare my justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth?

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

Seeing thou hast hated discipline: and hast cast my words behind thee.

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

If thou didst see a thief thou didst run with him: and with adulterers thou hast been a partaker.

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

Thy mouth hath abounded with evil, and thy tongue framed deceits.

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

Sitting thou didst speak against thy brother, and didst lay a scandal against thy 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 was silent. Thou thoughtest unjustly that I should be like to thee: but I will reprove thee, and set before thy face.

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

Understand these things, you that forget God; lest he snatch you away, and there be none to 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.”

The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me: and there is the way by which I will shew him the salvation of God.