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A Psalm by Asaph.

50 The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks,
    and calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
    God shines out.
Our God comes, and does not keep silent.
    A fire devours before him.
    It is very stormy around him.
He calls to the heavens above,
    to the earth, that he may judge his people:
“Gather my saints together to me,
    those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
The heavens shall declare his righteousness,
    for God himself is judge. Selah.
“Hear, my people, and I will speak.
    Israel, I will testify against you.
I am God, your God.
I don’t rebuke you for your sacrifices.
    Your burnt offerings are continually before me.
I have no need for a bull from your stall,
    nor male goats from your pens.
10 For every animal of the forest is mine,
    and the livestock on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the mountains.
    The wild animals of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
    for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Will I eat the meat of bulls,
    or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
    Pay your vows to the Most High.
15 Call on me in the day of trouble.
    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

16 But to the wicked God says,
    “What right do you have to declare my statutes,
    that you have taken my covenant on your lips,
17     since you hate instruction,
    and throw my words behind you?
18 When you saw a thief, you consented with him,
    and have participated with adulterers.

19 “You give your mouth to evil.
    Your tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother.
    You slander your own mother’s son.
21 You have done these things, and I kept silent.
    You thought that I was just like you.
    I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.

22 “Now consider this, you who forget God,
    lest I tear you into pieces, and there be no one to deliver.
23 Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me,
    and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”

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