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 God has spoken: He summons the earth from sunrise to sunset.

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

From Zion, perfection of beauty, God’s glory 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, he cannot keep silence, devouring fire is before him, and furious tempest 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 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 to him his saints by covenant-sacrifice bound to him;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

for all beasts of the forest are mine, and the kine 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 air, all that moves on the fields is 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!

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

Am I such as to eat bulls’ flesh, 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 a thank-offering, pay the Most High your vows.

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

Summon me in the day of distress, I will rescue you, so will you honour 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 have you to talk of my statutes, or take my covenant into your mouth

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

while you yourself hate correction, and cast 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 see a thief, you run with them; with adulterers you keep company.

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

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

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

You shamefully speak of your kin, and 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.

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

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.”

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