God, the Judge of the Righteous and the Wicked.

A Psalm of [a]Asaph.

50 (A)The Mighty One, God, the Lord, has spoken
And summoned the earth, (B)from [b]the rising of the sun to its setting.
Out of Zion, (C)the perfection of beauty,
God (D)has shone.
May our God (E)come and not keep silent;
(F)Fire devours before Him,
And a storm is violently (G)raging around Him.
He (H)summons the heavens above,
And the earth, to judge His people:
“Gather My (I)godly ones to Me,
Those who have made a (J)covenant with Me by (K)sacrifice.”
And the (L)heavens declare His righteousness,
For (M)God Himself is judge. Selah

(N)Hear, My people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify [c]against you;
I am God, (O)your God.
I do (P)not rebuke you for your sacrifices,
And your burnt offerings are continually before Me.
I will not take a (Q)bull from your house,
Nor male goats from your folds.
10 For (R)every animal of the forest is Mine,
The cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every (S)bird of the mountains,
And everything that moves in the field is [d]Mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
For the (T)world is Mine, and [e]everything it contains.
13 Shall I eat the flesh of [f](U)bulls
Or drink the blood of male goats?
14 Offer God (V)a sacrifice of thanksgiving
And (W)pay your vows to the Most High;
15 (X)Call upon Me on the day of trouble;
I will (Y)rescue you, and you will (Z)honor Me.”

16 But to the wicked God says,
“What right do you have to tell of My statutes
And to take (AA)My covenant in your mouth?
17 For you yourself (AB)hate discipline,
And you (AC)throw My words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you (AD)become friends with him,
And [g]you (AE)associate with adulterers.
19 You [h](AF)let your mouth loose in evil,
And your (AG)tongue harnesses deceit.
20 You sit and (AH)speak against your brother;
You slander your own mother’s son.
21 These things you have done and (AI)I kept silent;
You thought that I was just like you;
I will (AJ)rebuke you and present the case before your eyes.

22 “Now consider this, you who (AK)forget God,
Or I will (AL)tear you in pieces, and there will be no one to save you.
23 He who (AM)offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
And to him who (AN)sets his way properly
I will (AO)show the salvation of God.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 50 Title 1 Chr 15:17; 2 Chr 29:30
  2. Psalm 50:1 I.e., the east to the west
  3. Psalm 50:7 Or to
  4. Psalm 50:11 Or in My mind; lit with Me
  5. Psalm 50:12 Lit its fullness
  6. Psalm 50:13 Lit strong ones
  7. Psalm 50:18 Lit your part is with
  8. Psalm 50:19 Lit send

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 covenant(N) with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim(O) his righteousness,
    for he is a God of justice.[a][b](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)
10 for every animal of the forest(X) is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.(Y)
11 I know every bird(Z) in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields(AA) are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
    for the world(AB) is mine, and all that is in it.(AC)
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?

14 “Sacrifice thank offerings(AD) to God,
    fulfill your vows(AE) to the Most High,(AF)
15 and call(AG) on me in the day of trouble;(AH)
    I will deliver(AI) you, and you will honor(AJ) me.”

16 But to the wicked person, God says:

“What right have you to recite my laws
    or take my covenant(AK) on your lips?(AL)
17 You hate(AM) my instruction
    and cast my words behind(AN) you.
18 When you see a thief, you join(AO) with him;
    you throw in your lot with adulterers.(AP)
19 You use your mouth for evil
    and harness your tongue to deceit.(AQ)
20 You sit and testify against your brother(AR)
    and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,(AS)
    you thought I was exactly[c] like you.
But I now arraign(AT) you
    and set my accusations(AU) before you.

22 “Consider this, you who forget God,(AV)
    or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:(AW)
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
    and to the blameless[d] I will show my salvation.(AX)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 50:6 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text for God himself is judge
  2. Psalm 50:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 50:21 Or thought the ‘I am’ was
  4. Psalm 50:23 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; the meaning of the Masoretic Text for this phrase is uncertain.

God, the King of the Earth.

For the music director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

47 (A)Clap your hands, all you peoples;
(B)Shout to God with a voice of joy.
For the Lord Most High is to be (C)feared,
A (D)great King over all the earth.
He (E)subdues peoples under us
And nations under our feet.
He chooses our (F)inheritance for us,
The (G)pride of Jacob whom He loves. Selah

God has (H)ascended [a]with a shout,
The Lord, [b]with the (I)sound of a trumpet.
(J)Sing praises to God, sing praises;
Sing praises to (K)our King, sing praises.
For God is the (L)King of all the earth;
Sing praises (M)with a psalm of wisdom.
God (N)reigns over the nations,
God [c]sits on (O)His holy throne.
The [d](P)princes of the people have assembled as the (Q)people of the God of Abraham,
For the (R)shields of the earth belong to God;
He is (S)highly exalted.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 47:5 Or amid
  2. Psalm 47:5 Or amid
  3. Psalm 47:8 Or has taken His seat
  4. Psalm 47:9 Or nobles

Psalm 47[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Clap your hands,(A) all you nations;
    shout to God with cries of joy.(B)

For the Lord Most High(C) is awesome,(D)
    the great King(E) over all the earth.
He subdued(F) nations under us,
    peoples under our feet.
He chose our inheritance(G) for us,
    the pride of Jacob,(H) whom he loved.[b]

God has ascended(I) amid shouts of joy,(J)
    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.(K)
Sing praises(L) to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;(M)
    sing to him a psalm(N) of praise.

God reigns(O) over the nations;
    God is seated on his holy throne.(P)
The nobles of the nations assemble
    as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings[c] of the earth belong to God;(Q)
    he is greatly exalted.(R)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
  2. Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 47:9 Or shields

12 This is what the Lord says:

“Just as the shepherd [a](A)snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear,
So will the sons of Israel living in Samaria be [b]snatched away—
With the (B)corner of a bed and the [c](C)cover of a couch!
13 Hear and (D)testify against the house of Jacob,”
Declares the Lord God, the God of armies.
14 “For on the day that I punish Israel’s offenses,
I will also punish the altars of (E)Bethel;
The horns of the altar will be cut off,
And will fall to the ground.
15 I will also strike the (F)winter house together with the (G)summer house;
The houses of [d](H)ivory will also perish,
And the (I)great houses will come to an end,”
Declares the Lord.

“Yet You Have Not Returned to Me”

Hear this word, you [e]cows of (J)Bashan who are on the (K)mountain of Samaria,
Who (L)exploit the poor, who oppress the needy,
[f]And say to their [g]husbands, “Bring now, that we may (M)drink!”
The Lord [h]God has (N)sworn by His (O)holiness,
“For behold, the days are coming upon you
When [i]they will take you away with (P)meat hooks,
And the last of you with (Q)fish hooks.
You will (R)go out through holes in the walls,
One in front of the other,
And you [j]will be hurled to Harmon,” declares the Lord.

“Enter Bethel and do wrong;
In Gilgal multiply wrongdoing!
(S)Bring your sacrifices every morning,
Your tithes every three days.
[k]Offer a (T)thanksgiving offering also from that which is leavened,
And proclaim (U)[l]voluntary offerings, make them known.
For so you (V)love to do, you sons of Israel,”
Declares the Lord God.

Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:12 Or rescues
  2. Amos 3:12 Or rescued
  3. Amos 3:12 Or headrest; lit damask
  4. Amos 3:15 I.e., ivory inlay
  5. Amos 4:1 I.e., haughty, prominent women
  6. Amos 4:1 Lit Who
  7. Amos 4:1 Lit lords
  8. Amos 4:2 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  9. Amos 4:2 Lit he
  10. Amos 4:3 As in LXX; MT will hurl
  11. Amos 4:5 Lit Offer up in smoke
  12. Amos 4:5 Or freewill offerings

12 This is what the Lord says:

“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s(A) mouth
    only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
    with only the head of a bed
    and a piece of fabric[a] from a couch.[b](B)

13 “Hear this and testify(C) against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty.

14 “On the day I punish(D) Israel for her sins,
    I will destroy the altars of Bethel;(E)
the horns(F) of the altar will be cut off
    and fall to the ground.
15 I will tear down the winter house(G)
    along with the summer house;(H)
the houses adorned with ivory(I) will be destroyed
    and the mansions(J) will be demolished,(K)
declares the Lord.(L)

Israel Has Not Returned to God

Hear this word, you cows of Bashan(M) on Mount Samaria,(N)
    you women who oppress the poor(O) and crush the needy(P)
    and say to your husbands,(Q) “Bring us some drinks!(R)
The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness:
    “The time(S) will surely come
when you will be taken away(T) with hooks,(U)
    the last of you with fishhooks.[c]
You will each go straight out
    through breaches in the wall,(V)
    and you will be cast out toward Harmon,[d]
declares the Lord.
“Go to Bethel(W) and sin;
    go to Gilgal(X) and sin yet more.
Bring your sacrifices every morning,(Y)
    your tithes(Z) every three years.[e](AA)
Burn leavened bread(AB) as a thank offering
    and brag about your freewill offerings(AC)
boast about them, you Israelites,
    for this is what you love to do,”
declares the Sovereign Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Amos 3:12 Or Israelites be rescued, / those who sit in Samaria / on the edge of their beds / and in Damascus on their couches.
  3. Amos 4:2 Or away in baskets, / the last of you in fish baskets
  4. Amos 4:3 Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew (see Septuagint) out, you mountain of oppression
  5. Amos 4:4 Or days

Purpose of This Letter

(A)Beloved, this is now the second letter I am writing to you in which I am (B)stirring up your sincere mind by way of a reminder, to (C)remember the words spoken beforehand by (D)the holy prophets and (E)the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.

The Coming Day of the Lord

(F)Know this first of all, that (G)in the last days (H)mockers will come with their mocking, (I)following after their own lusts, and saying, “(J)Where is the promise of His (K)coming? For ever since the fathers [a](L)fell asleep, all things continue just as they were (M)from the beginning of creation.” For [b]when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that (N)by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was (O)formed out of water and by water, through which (P)the world at that time was (Q)destroyed by being flooded with water. But by His word (R)the present heavens and earth are being reserved for (S)fire, kept for (T)the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, (U)beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and (V)a thousand years like one day. (W)The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but (X)is patient toward you, (Y)not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

A New Heaven and Earth

10 But (Z)the day of the Lord (AA)will come like a thief, in which (AB)the heavens (AC)will pass away with a roar and the (AD)elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and (AE)the earth and [c]its works will be [d]discovered.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 3:4 I.e., died
  2. 2 Peter 3:5 Or they are willfully ignorant of this fact, that
  3. 2 Peter 3:10 Lit the works in it
  4. 2 Peter 3:10 I.e., as worthless; late mss burned up

The Day of the Lord

Dear friends,(A) this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders(B) to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets(C) and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.(D)

Above all, you must understand that in the last days(E) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.(F) They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?(G) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”(H) But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word(I) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.(J) By these waters also the world of that time(K) was deluged and destroyed.(L) By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,(M) being kept for the day of judgment(N) and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.(O) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,(P) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient(Q) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.(R)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.(S) The heavens will disappear with a roar;(T) the elements will be destroyed by fire,(U) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a](V)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 3:10 Some manuscripts be burned up

Cleansing the Temple

12 (A)And Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying on the temple grounds, and He overturned the tables of the (B)money changers and the seats of those who were selling (C)doves. 13 And He *said to them, “It is written: ‘(D)My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a (E)den of robbers.”

14 And those who were blind and those who limped came to Him in the temple area, and (F)He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple area, “[a]Hosanna to the (G)Son of David,” they became indignant, 16 and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus *said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘(H)From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?” 17 And He left them and went out of the city to (I)Bethany, and spent the night there.

The Barren Fig Tree

18 (J)Now in the early morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. 19 And seeing a lone (K)fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves alone; and He *said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.

20 Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and [b]asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?” 21 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, (L)if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And (M)whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive it all.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:15 Aramaic for Save, we pray
  2. Matthew 21:20 Lit said

Jesus at the Temple(A)

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying(B) and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers(C) and the benches of those selling doves.(D) 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[a](E) but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’[b](F)

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.(G) 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,”(H) they were indignant.(I)

16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
    you, Lord, have called forth your praise’[c]?”(J)

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany,(K) where he spent the night.

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree(L)

18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.(M)

20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt,(N) not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for(O) in prayer.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:13 Isaiah 56:7
  2. Matthew 21:13 Jer. 7:11
  3. Matthew 21:16 Psalm 8:2 (see Septuagint)