Psalms 50
Psalm 501
A psalm by Asaph.
50:1 El, God, the Lord2 speaks,
and summons the earth to come from the east and west.3
50:2 From Zion, the most beautiful of all places,4
God comes in splendor.5
50:3 Our God approaches and is not silent;6
consuming fire goes ahead of him
and all around him a storm rages.7
50:4 He summons the heavens above,
as well as the earth, so that he might judge his people.8
50:5 He says:9
“Assemble my covenant people before me,10
those who ratified a covenant with me by sacrifice!”11
50:6 The heavens declare his fairness,12
for God is judge.13 (Selah)
50:7 He says:14
“Listen my people! I am speaking!
Listen Israel! I am accusing you!15
I am God, your God!
50:8 I am not condemning16 you because of your sacrifices,
or because of your burnt sacrifices that you continually offer me.17
50:9 I do not need to take18 a bull from your household
or goats from your sheepfolds.
50:10 For every wild animal in the forest belongs to me,
as well as the cattle that graze on a thousand hills.19
50:11 I keep track of20 every bird in the hills,
and the insects21 of the field are mine.
50:12 Even if I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and all it contains belong to me.
50:13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls?
Do I drink the blood of goats?22
50:14 Present to God a thank-offering!
Repay your vows to the sovereign One!23
50:15 Pray to me when you are in trouble!24
I will deliver you, and you will honor me!”25
50:16 God says this to the evildoer:26
“How can you declare my commands,
and talk about my covenant?27
50:17 For you hate instruction
and reject my words.28
50:18 When you see a thief, you join him;29
you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives.30
50:19 You do damage with words,31
and use your tongue to deceive.32
50:20 You plot against your brother;33
you slander your own brother.34
50:21 When you did these things, I was silent,35
so you thought I was exactly like you.36
But now I will condemn37 you
and state my case against you!38
50:22 Carefully consider this, you who reject God!39
Otherwise I will rip you to shreds40
and no one will be able to rescue you.
50:23 Whoever presents a thank-offering honors me.41
To whoever obeys my commands, I will reveal my power to deliver.”42