Something to Think About

Psalm 50 (Holman Christian Standard)

God as Judge

A psalm of Asaph. (A)

1 God, the LORD God [a] speaks;
He summons the earth from east to west. (B) [b]
2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God appears in radiance. (C) [c]

3 Our God is coming; He will not be silent!
Devouring fire precedes Him,
and a storm rages around Him. (D)

4 On high, He summons heaven and earth
in order to judge His people. (E)

5 "Gather My faithful ones to Me,
those who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice." (F)

6 The heavens proclaim His righteousness, (G)
for God is the judge. (H)

Selah

7 "Listen, My people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel.
I am God, your God. (I)

8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices
or for your burnt offerings,
which are continually before Me. (J)

9 I will not accept a bull from your household
or male goats from your pens, (K)

10 for every animal of the forest is Mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.

11 I know every bird of the mountains [d] ,
and the creatures of the field are Mine. (L)

12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and everything in it is Mine. (M)

13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats? (N)

14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God, (O)
and pay your vows to the Most High. (P)

15 Call on Me in a day of trouble;
I will rescue you, and you will honor Me." (Q)

16 But God says to the wicked:
"What right do you have to recite My statutes
and to take My covenant on your lips? (R)

17 You hate instruction
and turn your back on My words. (S) [e]

18 When you see a thief,
you make friends with him,
and you associate with adulterers. (T)

19 You unleash your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue for deceit. (U)

20 You sit, maligning your brother,
slandering your mother's son. (V)

21 You have done these things, and I kept silent;
you thought I was just like you. (W)
But I will rebuke you
and lay out the case before you. (X) [f]

22 "Understand this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you apart,
and there will be no rescuer. (Y)

23 Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me,
and whoever orders his conduct,
I will show him the salvation of God." (Z)