A psalm by Asaph.
50:1 El, God, the Lord 2 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 condemning 16 you because of your sacrifices,
or because of your burnt sacrifices that you continually offer me. 17
50:9 I do not need to take 18 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 of 20 every bird in the hills,
and the insects 21 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 condemn 37 you
and state my case against you! 38
50:22 Carefully consider this, you who reject God! 39
Otherwise I will rip you to shreds 40
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