Psalms 50
Chapter 50 of 150
1 The Acceptable Sacrifice. A psalm of Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord, has spoken and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
3 Our God comes and will not be silent! Devouring fire precedes him, it rages strongly around him.
4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth to judge his people:
5 “Gather my loyal ones to me, those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is the judge.
7 “Listen, my people, I will speak; Israel, I will testify against you; God, your God, am I.
8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, your burnt offerings are always before me.
9 I will not take a bullock from your house, or he-goats from your folds.
10 For every animal of the forest is mine, beasts by the thousands on my mountains.
11 I know every bird in the heights; whatever moves in the wild is mine.
12 Were I hungry, I would not tell you, for mine is the world and all that fills it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of he-goats?
14 Offer praise as your sacrifice to God; fulfill your vows to the Most High.
15 Then call on me on the day of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall honor me.”
16 But to the wicked God says: “Why do you recite my commandments and profess my covenant with your mouth?
17 You hate discipline; you cast my words behind you!
18 If you see a thief, you run with him; with adulterers you throw in your lot.
19 You give your mouth free rein for evil; you yoke your tongue to deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother, slandering your mother’s son.
21 When you do these things should I be silent? Do you think that I am like you? I accuse you, I lay out the matter before your eyes.
22 “Now understand this, you who forget God, lest I start ripping apart and there be no rescuer.
23 Those who offer praise as a sacrifice honor me; I will let him whose way is steadfast look upon the salvation of God.”