Psalms 50

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

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

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

God shines out of Mount Zion, perfect in beauty.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“My people, listen to what I have to say. I am bringing charges against you, Israel. 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'm not complaining about your sacrifices or burnt offerings that you offer all the time.

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

I do not require bulls from your barns or 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 I own all the animals of the forest, and the cattle on a thousand hills belong to me.

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

I know every bird of the mountains; all living things in the fields 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 wouldn't tell you, for the earth and everything in it are mine.

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].

Do 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.

Give an offering of thanks to God; keep the promises you made 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.

and call on me when you're in trouble. I will rescue you, and you will thank 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's the point of mechanically repeating my laws or making empty promises about obeying the agreement?

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

You hate my discipline, and you toss my words away, leaving them 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 see people stealing, you admire them; you associate with adulterers.

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

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

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

You sit there and speak against your brother, slandering 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.

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 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.

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

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.”

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.”