Chapter 50

A psalm of Asaph.

^c‐ Heb. ’El ’Elohim YHWH. God, the LORD God ^‐c Heb. ’El ’Elohim YHWH. spoke and summoned the world from east to west. ^{1 2}From Zion, perfect in beauty, God appeared ³—let our God come and not fail to act! Devouring fire preceded Him; it stormed around Him fiercely. ⁴He summoned the heavens above, and the earth, for the trial of His people. ⁵“Bring in My devotees, who made a covenant with Me over sacrifice!” ⁶Then the heavens proclaimed His righteousness, for He is a God who judges. Selah. ⁷“Pay heed, My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will arraign you. I am God, your God. ⁸I censure you not for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings, made to Me daily; ⁹I claim no bull from your estate, no he‐goats from your pens. ¹⁰For Mine is every animal of the forest, the beasts on ^a‐ Meaning of Heb. uncertain. a thousand mountains. ^‐a Meaning of Heb. uncertain. ¹¹I know every bird of the mountains, the creatures of the field are subject to Me. ¹²Were I hungry, I would not tell you, for Mine is the world and all it holds. ¹³Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of he‐goats? ¹⁴Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and pay your vows to the Most High. ¹⁵Call upon Me in time of trouble; I will rescue you, and you shall honor Me.” ¹⁶And to the wicked, God said: “Who are you to recite My laws, and mouth the terms of My covenant, ¹⁷seeing that you spurn My discipline, and brush My words aside? ¹⁸When you see a thief, you fall in with him, and throw in your lot with adulterers; ¹⁹you devote your mouth to evil, and yoke your tongue to deceit; ²⁰you are busy maligning your brother, defaming the son of your mother. ²¹If I failed to act when you did these things, you would fancy that I was like you; so I censure you and confront you with charges. ²²Mark this, you who are unmindful of God, lest I tear you apart and no one save you. ²³He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, ^a‐ Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and to him who improves his way ^‐a Meaning of Heb. uncertain. I will show the salvation of God.”