50 The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.

Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.

I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.

I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.

10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee.

18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.

21 These 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.

22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Psalm 50

The Acceptable Sacrifice

A Psalm of Asaph.

The mighty one, God the Lord,
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to its setting.(A)
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
    God shines forth.(B)

Our God comes and does not keep silent;
    before him is a devouring fire
    and a mighty tempest all around him.(C)
He calls to the heavens above
    and to the earth, that he may judge his people:(D)
“Gather to me my faithful ones,
    who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”(E)
The heavens declare his righteousness,
    for God himself is judge. Selah(F)

“Hear, O my people, and I will speak,
    O Israel, I will testify against you.
    I am God, your God.(G)
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;
    your burnt offerings are continually before me.(H)
I will not accept a bull from your house
    or goats from your folds.(I)
10 For every wild animal of the forest is mine,
    the cattle on a thousand hills.(J)
11 I know all the birds of the air,[a]
    and all that moves in the field is mine.

12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
    for the world and all that is in it is mine.(K)
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,[b]
    and pay your vows to the Most High.(L)
15 Call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”(M)

16 But to the wicked God says,
    “What right have you to recite my statutes
    or take my covenant on your lips?(N)
17 For you hate discipline,
    and you cast my words behind you.(O)
18 You make friends with a thief when you see one,
    and you keep company with adulterers.(P)

19 You give your mouth free rein for evil,
    and your tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your kin;
    you slander your own mother’s child.(Q)
21 These things you have done, and I have been silent;
    you thought that I was one just like yourself.
But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.(R)

22 Mark this, then, you who forget God,
    or I will tear you apart, and there will be no one to deliver.(S)
23 Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me;
    to those who go the right way,[c]
    I will show the salvation of God.”

Footnotes

  1. 50.11 Gk Syr Tg: Heb mountains
  2. 50.14 Or make thanksgiving your sacrifice to God
  3. 50.23 Heb who set a way

True Worship[a]

50 The Almighty God, the Lord, speaks;
    he calls to the whole earth from east to west.
God shines from Zion,
    the city perfect in its beauty.

Our God is coming, but not in silence;
    a raging fire is in front of him,
    a furious storm around him.
He calls heaven and earth as witnesses
    to see him judge his people.
He says, “Gather my faithful people to me,
    those who made a covenant with me by offering a sacrifice.”
The heavens proclaim that God is righteous,
    that he himself is judge.

“Listen, my people, and I will speak;
    I will testify against you, Israel.
    I am God, your God.
I do not reprimand you because of your sacrifices
    and the burnt offerings you always bring me.
And yet I do not need bulls from your farms
    or goats from your flocks;
10 all the animals in the forest are mine
    and the cattle on thousands of hills.
11 All the wild birds are mine
    and all living things in the fields.

12 “If I were hungry, I would not ask you for food,
    for the world and everything in it is mine.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?
14 Let the giving of thanks be your sacrifice to God,[b]
    and give the Almighty all that you promised.
15 Call to me when trouble comes;
    I will save you,
    and you will praise me.”

16 But God says to the wicked,
    “Why should you recite my commandments?
    Why should you talk about my covenant?
17 You refuse to let me correct you;
    you reject my commands.
18 You become the friend of every thief you see,
    and you associate with adulterers.

19 “You are always ready to speak evil;
    you never hesitate to tell lies.
20 You are ready to accuse your own relatives
    and to find fault with them.
21 You have done all this, and I have said nothing,
    so you thought that I am like you.
But now I reprimand you
    and make the matter plain to you.

22 “Listen to this, you that ignore me,
    or I will destroy you,
    and there will be no one to save you.
23 Giving thanks is the sacrifice that honors me,
    and I will surely save all who obey me.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 50:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by Asaph.
  2. Psalm 50:14 Let the giving … to God; or Offer your thanksgiving sacrifice to God.