Psalm 50 (Today's New International Version)

A psalm of Asaph."

1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD,¹ speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.² 2 From Zion,³ perfect in beauty,⁴ God shines forth.⁵ 3 Our God comes⁶ and will not be silent;⁷ a fire devours⁸ before him,⁹ and around him a tempest¹⁰ rages. 4 He summons the heavens above, and the earth,¹¹ that he may judge his people:¹² 5 "Gather to me this consecrated people,¹³ who made a covenant¹⁴ with me by sacrifice." 6 And the heavens proclaim¹⁵ his righteousness, for he is a God of justice.^{a b16} 7 "Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify¹⁷ against you, Israel: I am God, your God.¹⁸ 8 I bring no charges¹⁹ against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings,²⁰ which are ever before me. 9 I have no need of a bull²¹ from your stall or of goats²² from your pens,²³ 10 for every animal of the forest²⁴ is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.²⁵ 11 I know every bird²⁶ in the mountains, and the creatures of the field²⁷ are mine. 12 If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world²⁸ is mine, and all that is in it.²⁹ 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 14 "Sacrifice thank offerings³⁰ to God, fulfill your vows³¹ to the Most High,³² 15 and call³³ on me in the day of trouble;³⁴ I will deliver³⁵ you, and you will honor³⁶ me." 16 But to the wicked, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant³⁷ on your lips?³⁸ 17 You hate³⁹ my instruction and cast my words behind⁴⁰ you. 18 When you see thieves, you join⁴¹ with them; you throw in your lot with adulterers.⁴² 19 You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.⁴³ 20 You sit and testify against your brother⁴⁴ and slander your own mother's son. 21 When you did these things and I kept silent,⁴⁵ you thought I was exactly^c like you. But I now arraign⁴⁶ you and set my accusations⁴⁷ before you. 22 "Consider this, you who forget God,⁴⁸ or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue:⁴⁹ 23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless^d I will show my salvation.⁵⁰"