Psalms 50

1A psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God, the LORD, has spoken; he has called to the whole earth, from the sunrise to the sunset. 2God has blazed out from Zion, the city of flawless beauty. 3Our God is coming, and he will not stay silent; a fire consumes all in his path, and a fierce storm rages on every side. 4He calls heaven above and earth below as witnesses, as he judges his people: 5“Bring together before me my loyal people, who sealed my covenant with a sacrifice.” 6The heavens make known his justice, because it is God who sits as judge. Selah 7“Pay attention, my people, for I am about to speak; I am bringing testimony against you, Israel. I am God, your God. 8I do not find fault with you over your sacrifices; your burnt offerings are always in front of me. 9I will not accept a young bull from your household, or male goats out of your sheepfolds. 10For all the creatures of the woods belong to me, and so do the herds grazing over a thousand hills. 11I know every bird of the high hills; whatever stirs in the open country is in my keeping. 12Were I ever hungry, you are not the one I would tell, since the world and all it holds are mine. 13Am I one who eats the meat of bulls, or drinks the blood of goats? 14Offer thanksgiving to God as your sacrifice, and keep the vows you made to the Most High, 15and call to me when trouble comes; I will set you free, and you will give me glory.” 16But to the wicked God says: “What business do you have reciting my decrees, or mouthing the words of my covenant? 17You hate to be corrected, and you toss my words over your shoulder. 18You see a thief and are happy to go along with him; you share in what adulterers do. 19You let your mouth run free to do harm, and your tongue weaves lies. 20You sit around speaking against your brother; you smear the name of your own mother’s son. 21You did these things and I said nothing, so you imagined I was no different from you. Now I will rebuke you and lay out the case before your eyes. 22Now take this to heart, all of you who forget God, or I will tear you apart like a lion, and no one will be able to save you. 23Whoever offers thanks as a sacrifice gives me honor, and whoever walks the right road, I will let them see how God saves.”