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Psalm 50

A psalm by Asaph.

Yahweh, the only true El, has spoken.
    He has summoned the earth
        from where the sun rises to where it sets.
Elohim shines from Zion,
    the perfection of beauty.
Our Elohim will come and will not remain silent.
    A devouring fire is in front of him
        and a raging storm around him.
He summons heaven and earth to judge his people:
“Gather around me, my godly people
    who have made a pledge to me through sacrifices.”

The heavens announce his righteousness
    because Elohim is the Shophet. Selah

“Listen, my people, and I will speak.
    Listen, Israel, and I will testify against you:
    I am Elohim, your Elohim!
I am not criticizing you for your sacrifices or burnt offerings,
    which are always in front of me.
But I will not accept another young bull from your household
    or a single male goat from your pens.
10 Every creature in the forest,
    even the cattle on a thousand hills, is mine.
11 I know every bird in the mountains.
    Everything that moves in the fields is mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
    because the world and all that it contains are mine.
13 Do I eat the meat of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14 Bring your thanks to Elohim as a sacrifice,
    and keep your vows to Elyon.
15 Call on me in times of trouble.
    I will rescue you, and you will honor me.”

16 But Elohim says to wicked people,
    “How dare you quote my decrees
        and mouth my promises![a]
17 You hate discipline.
    You toss my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you want to make friends with him.
    You keep company with people who commit adultery.
19 You let your mouth say anything evil.
    Your tongue plans deceit.
20 You sit and talk against your own brother.
    You slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things, I remained silent.
    That made you think I was like you.
        I will argue my point with you
            and lay it all out for you to see.
22 Consider this, you people who forget Eloah.
    Otherwise, I will tear you to pieces,
        and there will be no one left to rescue you.
23 Whoever offers thanks as a sacrifice honors me.
    I will let everyone who continues in my way
        see the salvation that comes from Elohim.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 50:16 Or “covenant.”

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.