1The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.2From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.3Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.4He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:5‘Gather to me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’6And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice.[1]7‘Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God.8I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.9I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,10for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.11I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.12If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.13Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?14‘Sacrifice thank-offerings to God, fulfil your vows to the Most High,15and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me.’16But to the wicked person, God says: ‘What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?17You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.18When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.19You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.20You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son.21When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly[3] like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you.22‘Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no-one to rescue you:23those who sacrifice thank-offerings honour me, and to the blameless[4] I will show my salvation.’
Psalm 50
English Standard Version
God Himself Is Judge
1A Psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. (Jos 22:22; 1Ch 6:39; 1Ch 15:17; 1Ch 16:5; 1Ch 16:7; 1Ch 25:2; 2Ch 29:30; Ps 113:3)2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. (De 33:2; Ps 48:2; Ps 80:1; Ps 94:1; La 2:15)3Our God comes; he does not keep silence;[1] before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest. (Ex 19:16; Le 10:2; Nu 16:35; Ps 21:9; Ps 97:3; Da 7:10)4He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: (De 4:26; De 31:28; De 32:1; Isa 1:2; Mic 6:1)5“Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” (Ge 15:9; Ex 24:7)6The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! (Ps 58:11; Ps 75:7; Ps 89:5; Ps 97:6; Re 16:5; Re 16:7; Re 19:2)7“Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. (Ex 20:2; Ps 49:1; Ps 81:8)8Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. (Ps 40:6)9I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds.10For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.11I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. (Mt 10:29)12“If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. (Ps 24:1)13Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?14Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,[2] and perform your vows to the Most High, (Nu 30:2; De 23:21; Job 22:27; Ps 22:25; Ps 27:6; Ps 50:23; Ps 61:8; Ps 65:1; Ps 69:30; Ps 76:11; Ps 107:22; Ps 116:14; Ps 116:18; Ec 5:4; Ho 14:2; Ro 12:1; Heb 13:15)15and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Ps 22:23; Ps 50:23; Ps 81:7; Ps 91:15; Ps 107:6; Zec 13:9)16But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips?17For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you. (1Ki 14:9; Ne 9:26; Ro 2:21)18If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers. (Ro 1:32; 1Ti 5:22)19“You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit. (Ps 52:2)20You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.21These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I[3] was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. (2Ki 19:4; Job 13:18; Job 23:4; Ps 90:8; Ec 8:11; Isa 57:11)22“Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver! (Ps 7:2; Ps 9:17)23The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Ps 50:14; Ps 91:16; Ga 6:16)