• Psalm 50

  • 1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
  • 2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
  • 3 Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.
  • 4 He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:
  • 5 “Gather to me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
  • 6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice.
  • 7 “Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God.
  • 8 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
  • 9 I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,
  • 10 for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
  • 11 I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.
  • 12 If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
  • 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
  • 14 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,
  • 15 and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
  • 16 But to the wicked person, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?
  • 17 You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.
  • 18 When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.
  • 19 You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.
  • 20 You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son.
  • 21 When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you.
  • 22 “Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
  • 23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”