God Himself Is Judge

50 A Psalm of nAsaph.

1  oThe Mighty One, God the Lord,

speaks and summons the earth

pfrom the rising of the sun to its setting.

2  Out of Zion, qthe perfection of beauty,

rGod shines forth.

3  Our God comes; he sdoes not keep silence;1

before him is a devouring tfire,

around him a mighty tempest.

4  uHe calls to the heavens above

and to the earth, that he may judge his people:

5  “Gather to me my faithful ones,

who made va covenant with me by sacrifice!”

6  wThe heavens declare his righteousness,

for xGod himself is judge! Selah

7  y“Hear, O my people, and I will speak;

O Israel, I will testify against you.

zI am God, your God.

8  Not for your sacrifices ado I rebuke you;

your burnt offerings are continually before me.

9  I will not accept a bull from your house

or goats from your folds.

10  For every beast of the forest is mine,

the cattle on a thousand hills.

11  bI know all the birds of the hills,

and all that moves in the field is mine.

12  “If I were hungry, I would not tell you,

cfor the world and its fullness are mine.

13  Do I eat the flesh of bulls

or drink the blood of goats?

14  dOffer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,2

and eperform your vows to the Most High,

15  and fcall upon me in the day of trouble;

I will gdeliver you, and you shall hglorify me.”

16  But to the wicked God says:

“What right have you to recite my statutes

or take my covenant on your lips?

17  iFor you hate discipline,

jand you cast my words behind you.

18  If you see a thief, kyou are pleased with him,

land you keep company with adulterers.

19  “You give your mouth free rein for evil,

mand your tongue frames deceit.

20  You sit and speak against your brother;

you slander your own mother’s son.

21  These things you have done, and I nhave been silent;

you thought that I3 was one like yourself.

But now I orebuke you and play the charge before you.

22  “Mark this, then, you who qforget God,

lest I tear you apart, and there be rnone to deliver!

23  The one who soffers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;

to one who torders his way rightly

I will show the usalvation of God!”