Psalms 50:1-10

1 A psalm of Asaf: The Mighty One, God, ADONAI, is speaking, summoning the world from east to west.
2 Out of Tziyon, the perfection of beauty, God is shining forth.
3 Our God is coming and not staying silent. With a fire devouring ahead of him and a great storm raging around him,
4 he calls to the heavens above and to earth, in order to judge his people.
5 "Gather to me my faithful, those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge. (Selah)
7 "Listen, my people, I am speaking: Isra'el, I am testifying against you, I, God, your God.
8 I am not rebuking you for your sacrifices; your burnt offerings are always before me.
9 I have no need for a bull from your farm or for male goats from your pens;
10 for all forest creatures are mine already, as are the animals on a thousand hills;

Psalms 50:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 50

\\<>\\. This psalm is called a psalm of Asaph; either because it was composed by him under divine inspiration, since he was a prophet and a seer, 1Ch 25:2, 2Ch 29:30; or because it was delivered to him to be sung in public service, he being a chief musician; see 1Ch 16:7; and so it may be rendered, "a psalm for Asaph"; or "unto Asaph" {o}; which was directed, sent, and delivered to him, and might be written by David; and, as Junius thinks, after the angel had appeared to him, and he was directed where he should build an altar to the Lord, 1Ch 21:18. The Targum, Kimchi, and R. Obadiah Gaon, interpret this psalm of the day of judgment; and Jarchi takes it to be a prophecy of the future redemption by their expected Messiah; and indeed it does refer to the times of the Gospel dispensation; for it treats of the calling of the Gentiles, of the abrogation of legal sacrifices, and of the controversy the Lord would have with the Jews for retaining them, and rejecting pure, spiritual, and evangelical worship. {o} Poal "ipsi Asaph", Tigurine version, Vatablus; "Asapho", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Ainsworth.

Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.