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 of Assaph.” The God of gods, the Lord, speaketh, and calleth the earth, from the rising of the sun unto his setting.

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

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

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

Our God is coming, and will not keep silence: a fire devoureth before him, and round him there rageth a mighty storm.

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

He will call to the heavens above, and to the earth, to judge his people.

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

“Gather together unto me my pious servants, who make a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

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

And the heavens tell of his righteousness; for God is judge himself. (Selah)

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 against thee: God, thy God, am I.

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

Not because of thy sacrifices will I reprove thee; and thy burnt-offerings are continually before me.

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

I will not take a bullock out of thy house, nor he-goats out of thy folds.

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

For mine are all the beasts of the forest, the cattle upon a thousand mountains.

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

I know all the fowls of the mountains: whatever moveth on the fields is with me.

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

If I were hungry, I would not say it to thee; for mine is the world, and what filleth it.

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

Do I eat the flesh of fatted bulls, or drink the blood of he-goats?

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

Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay unto the Most High thy vows;

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

And call on me on the day of distress: I will deliver thee, — and so wilt thou 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 unto the wicked God saith, “What hast thou to do to relate my statutes, and why bearest thou my covenant upon thy mouth?

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

And yet thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

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

When thou seest a thief, then art thou pleased with him, and with adulterers hast thou thy portion.

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

Thou lettest loose thy mouth with evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

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

Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; against thy own mother's son thou utterest slander.

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 kept silence: thou didst ween that I am like thyself; [but] I will reprove thee, and set it in order before thy eyes.”

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

Do but reflect on this, ye that forget God, lest I tear [you] in pieces, with none to deliver.

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.”

Whoso offereth thanksgiving glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his course aright, will I show the salvation of God.