New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
1
<A Psalm. Of Asaph.> The God of gods, even the Lord, has sent out his voice, and the earth is full of fear; from the coming up of the sun to its going down.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
2
From Zion, most beautiful of places, God has sent out his light.
3 Our God comes and does not keep silence, before him is a devouring fire, and a mighty tempest all around him.
3
Our God will come, and will not keep quiet; with fire burning before him, and storm-winds round him.
4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
4
His voice will go out to the heavens and to the earth, for the judging of his people:
5 "Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!"
5
Let my saints come together to me; those who have made an agreement with me by offerings.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. (Selah)
6
And let the heavens make clear his righteousness; for God himself is the judge. (Selah.)
7 "Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.
7
Give ear, O my people, to my words; O Israel, I will be a witness against you; I am God, even your God.
8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.
8
I will not take up a cause against you because of your offerings, or because of your burned offerings, which are ever before me.
9 I will not accept a bull from your house, or goats from your folds.
9
I will take no ox out of your house, or he-goats from your flocks;
10 For every wild animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
10
For every beast of the woodland is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the air, and all that moves in the field is mine.
11
I see all the birds of the mountains, and the beasts of the field are mine.
12 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all that is in it is mine.
12
If I had need of food, I would not give you word of it; for the earth is mine and all its wealth.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
13
Am I to take the flesh of the ox for my food, or the blood of goats for my drink?
14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High.
14
Make an offering of praise to God; keep the agreements which you have made with the Most High;
15 Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."
15
Let your voice come up to me in the day of trouble; I will be your saviour, so that you may give glory to me.
16 But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes, or take my covenant on your lips?
16
But to the sinner, God says, What are you doing, talking of my laws, or taking the words of my agreement in your mouth?
17 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.
17
Seeing that you have no desire for my teaching, turning your back on my words.
18 You make friends with a thief when you see one, and you keep company with adulterers.
18
When you saw a thief, you were in agreement with him, and you were joined with those who took other men's wives.
19 "You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.
19
You have given your mouth to evil, your tongue to words of deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your kin; you slander your own mother's child.
20
You say evil of your brother; you make false statements against your mother's son.
21 These things you have done and I have been silent; you thought that I was one just like yourself. But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge before you.
21
These things have you done, and I said nothing; it seemed to you that I was such a one as yourself; but I will make a protest against you, and put them in order before your eyes.
22 "Mark this, then, you who forget God, or I will tear you apart, and there will be no one to deliver.
22
Now keep this in mind, you who have no memory of God, for fear that you may be crushed under my hand, with no one to give you help:
23 Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God."
23
Whoever makes an offering of praise gives glory to me; and to him who is upright in his ways I will make clear the salvation of God.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.