Psalm 50
A Psalm by Asaph.
1 The Mighty One,
God, the LORD,
speaks,
and calls the
earth from sunrise
to sunset.
2 Out of
Zion, the
perfection of
beauty,
God shines out.
3 Our God
comes, and does
not keep silent.
A fire devours before
him.
It is very stormy
around him.
4 He
calls to the
heavens above,
to the earth,
that he may
judge his people:
5 “Gather my
saints together to
me,
those who have
made a covenant
with me by
sacrifice.”
6 The
heavens shall
declare his
righteousness,
for God himself
is judge.
Selah.
7 “Hear,
my people, and
I will speak.
Israel, I will
testify against
you.
I am God, your God.
8 I don’t
rebuke you for
your sacrifices.
Your burnt
offerings are
continually before
me.
9 I
have no need for
a bull from
your stall,
nor male goats
from your pens.
10 For
every animal of
the forest is mine,
and the livestock
on a thousand
hills.
11 I
know all the
birds of the
mountains.
The wild animals
of the field
are mine.
12 If
I were hungry,
I would not tell
you,
for the world
is mine, and all
that is in
it.
13 Will
I eat the meat
of bulls,
or drink the
blood of goats?
14 Offer
to God the
sacrifice of
thanksgiving.
Pay your vows
to the Most
High.
15 Call
on me in
the day of
trouble.
I will deliver
you, and you
will honor 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,
17 since you
hate instruction,
and throw my
words behind you?
18 When
you saw a
thief, you consented
with him,
and have participated
with adulterers.
19 “You give
your mouth to
evil.
Your tongue
frames deceit.
20 You
sit and speak
against your brother.
You 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.
22 “Now
consider this, you
who forget God,
lest I tear
you into pieces,
and there be
no one to
deliver.
23 Whoever
offers the
sacrifice of
thanksgiving glorifies me,
and prepares his
way so that
I will show God’s
salvation to him.”