Psalms 50

1 A Psalm for Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord, has spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun to the going down [thereof].

A psalm of Asaph. The Lord God has spoken: He summons the earth from sunrise to sunset.

2 Out of Sion [comes] the excellence of his beauty.

From Zion, perfection of beauty, God’s glory shines forth.

3 God, our God, shall come manifestly, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall be kindled before him, and round about him there shall be a very great tempest.

Our God comes, he cannot keep silence, devouring fire is before him, and furious tempest around him.

4 He shall summon the heaven above, and the earth, that he may judge his people.

He summons the heavens above and the earth to judge his people.

5 Assemble you his saints to him, those that have engaged in a covenant with him upon sacrifices.

Gather to him his saints by covenant-sacrifice bound to him;

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge. (Pause)

that the heavens may declare his justice, for a God of justice is he. (Selah)

7 Hear, my people, and I will speak to you, O Israel: and I will testify to you: I am God, your God.

‘Hear, O my people, and I will speak, and protest to you, O Israel: I am the Lord, your God.

8 I will not reprove you on account of your sacrifices; for your whole burnt offerings are before me continually.

Not for your sacrifices will I reprove you your burnt-offerings are ever before me

9 I will take no bullocks out of your house, nor he-goats out of your flocks.

Not a bullock will I take from your house, nor male goats out of your folds;

10 For all the wild beasts of the thicket are mine, the cattle on the mountains, and oxen.

for all beasts of the forest are mine, and the kine on a thousand hills.

11 I know all the birds of the sky; and the beauty of the field is mine.

I know all the birds of the air, all that moves on the fields is mine.

12 If I should be hungry, I will not tell you: for the world is mine, and the fullness of it.

Were I hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fulness are mine.

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

Am I such as to eat bulls’ flesh, or drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer to God the sacrifice of praise; and pay your vows to the Most High.

Offer to God a thank-offering, pay the Most High your vows.

15 And call upon me in the day of affliction; and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. (Pause)

Summon me in the day of distress, I will rescue you, so will you honour me.’

16 But to the sinner God has said, Why do you declare my ordinances, and take up my covenant in your mouth?

But to the wicked God says: ‘What right have you to talk of my statutes, or take my covenant into your mouth

17 Whereas you have hated instruction, and have cast my words behind [you].

while you yourself hate correction, and cast my words behind you?

18 If you saw a thief, you ran along with him, and have cast in your lot with adulterers.

When you see a thief, you run with them; with adulterers you keep company.

19 Your mouth has multiplied wickedness, and your tongue has framed deceit.

You let your mouth loose for evil, your tongue contrives deceit.

20 You did sit and speak against your brother, and did scandalize your mother's son.

You shamefully speak of your kin, and slander your own mother’s son.

21 These things you did, and I kept silence: you thought wickedly that I should be like you, [but] I will reprove you, and set [your offenses] before you.

And because I kept silence at this, you did take me for one like yourself. But I will convict you and show you plainly.

22 Now consider these things, you that forget God, lest he rend [you], and there is no deliverer.

‘Now you who forget God, mark this, lest I rend you, past hope of deliverance.

23 The sacrifice of praise will glorify me: and that is the way wherein I will show to him the salvation of God.

Those who bring a thank-offering honour me; but to those: who follows my way, I will show the salvation of God.’