1A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.4He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.5Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.6And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.7Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother' son.21These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Psalm 50
New International Reader’s Version
A psalm of Asaph.
1The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks. He calls out to the earth from the sunrise in the east to the sunset in the west.2From Zion, perfect and beautiful, God’s glory shines out.3Our God comes, and he won’t be silent. A burning fire goes ahead of him. A terrible storm is all around him.4He calls out to heaven and earth to be his witnesses. Then he judges his people.5He says, ‘Gather this holy people around me. They made a covenant with me by offering a sacrifice.’6The heavens announce that what God decides is right. That’s because he is a God of justice.7God says, ‘Listen, my people, and I will speak. I will be a witness against you, Israel. I am God, your God.8I don’t bring charges against you because of your sacrifices. I don’t bring charges because of the burnt offerings you always bring me.9I don’t need a bull from your barn. I don’t need goats from your pens.10Every animal in the forest already belongs to me. And so do the cattle on a thousand hills.11I own every bird in the mountains. The insects in the fields belong to me.12If I were hungry, I wouldn’t tell you. The world belongs to me. And so does everything in it.13Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats?14Bring me thank-offerings, because I am your God. Carry out the promises you made to me, because I am the Most High God.15Call out to me when trouble comes. I will save you. And you will honour me.’16But here is what God says to a sinful person. ‘What right do you have to speak the words of my laws? How dare you speak the words of my covenant!17You hate my teaching. You turn your back on what I say.18When you see a thief, you join him. You make friends with those who commit adultery.19You use your mouth to speak evil. You use your tongue to spread lies.20You are a witness against your brother. You always tell lies about your own mother’s son.21When you did these things, I kept silent. So you thought I was just like you. But now I’m going to bring you to court. I will bring charges against you.22‘You who forget God, think about this. If you don’t, I will tear you to pieces. No one will be able to save you.23People who sacrifice thank-offerings to me honour me. To those who are without blame I will show my power to save.’