Psalm 50

Psalm 50

A psalm of Asaph.

The Mighty One, God, the Lord,^a

speaks and summons the earth

from the rising of the sun to where it sets.^b

From Zion,^c perfect in beauty,^d

God shines forth.^e

Our God comes^f

and will not be silent;^g

a fire devours^h before him,ⁱ

and around him a tempest^j rages.

He summons the heavens above,

and the earth,^k that he may judge his people:^l

“Gather to me this consecrated people,^m

who made a covenantⁿ with me by sacrifice.”

And the heavens proclaim^o his righteousness,

for he is a God of justice.^p

“Listen, my people, and I will speak;

I will testify^q against you, Israel:

I am God, your God.^r

I bring no charges^s against you concerning your sacrifices

or concerning your burnt offerings,^t which are ever before me.

I have no need of a bull^u from your stall

or of goats^v from your pens,^w

for every animal of the forest^x is mine,

and the cattle on a thousand hills.^y

I know every bird^z in the mountains,

and the creatures of the field^a are mine.

If I were hungry I would not tell you,

for the world^b is mine, and all that is in it.^c

Do I eat the flesh of bulls

or drink the blood of goats?

“Sacrifice thank offerings^d to God,

fulfill your vows^e to the Most High,^f

and call^g on me in the day of trouble;^h

I will deliverⁱ you, and you will honor^j me.”

But to the wicked, God says:

“What right have you to recite my laws

or take my covenant^k on your lips?^l

You hate^m my instruction

and cast my words behindⁿ you.

When you see thieves, you join^o with them;

you throw in your lot with adulterers.^p

You use your mouth for evil

and harness your tongue to deceit.^q

You sit and testify against your brother^r

and slander your own mother’s son.

When you did these things and I kept silent,^s

you thought I was exactly like you.

But I now arraign^t you

and set my accusations^u before you.

“Consider this, you who forget God,^v

or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue:^w

Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,

and to the blameless I will show my salvation.^x”