Psalms 50

1 A Psalm by Asaph. The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks, and calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.

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

2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines out.

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

3 Our God comes, and does not keep silent. A fire devours before him. It is very stormy around him.

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

4 He calls to the heavens above, to the earth, that he may judge his people:

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

5 “Gather my saints together to me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

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

6 The heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. (Selah)

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

7 “Hear, my people, and I will speak. Israel, I will testify against 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 don’t rebuke you for your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are continually before me.

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

9 I have no need for a bull from your stall, nor male goats from your pens.

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

10 For every animal of the forest is mine, and the livestock on a thousand hills.

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

11 I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are mine.

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

12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

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

13 Will I eat the meat 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 thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.

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

15 Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

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

16 But to the wicked God says, “What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips,

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

17 since you hate instruction, and throw my words behind you?

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

18 When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers.

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

19 “You give your mouth to evil. Your tongue frames deceit.

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

20 You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother’s son.

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

21 You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.

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 this, you who forget God, lest I tear you into pieces, and there be no one to deliver.

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

23 Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”

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