50  A song by Asaf.

1 Yahweh, God, has spoken

and summoned the world from the sun’s rising to its setting.

2 ⇔God has shone out of Tsiyon (Zion)—

the perfection of beauty.

3 Our god comes and doesn’t stay silent.

A fire devours ahead of him,

and it’s very stormy around him.

4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth

→ so that he can judge his people.

5 “Bring my faithful ones together to me—

those who’ve made an agreement with me by sacrificing.”

6 The heavens will declare his righteousness,

because God himself is judge. (Instrumental break.)

7 “My people, listen and I’ll speak.

I’ll bring accusations against you, Yisrael (Israel).

I’m God, your god.

8 I won’t scold you for your sacrifices.

You’re continually sacrificing burnt offerings to me.

9 I won’t accept any bull off your property,

≈ or any billy goats out of your pens,

10 because every animal in the forest is mine,

≈ and the cattle on a thousand hills.

11 I know all the birds in the hills,

≈ and the wild animals in the countryside are mine.

12 I wouldn’t bother telling you if I was hungry

because the world is mine including everything in it.

13 Do I eat the meat from bulls that have been sacrificed,

≈ or drink the blood from the goats?

14 Present a thank offering to God

≈ and honour your promises to the highest one.

15 Call out to me whenever you get into trouble.

I’ll rescue you, and you’ll honour me.”

16 But God tells the wicked people,

“What do you have to do with reciting my instructions,

that you’ve taken telling others about my agreement,

17 since you hate correction

≈ and just toss my warnings back over your shoulders?

18 When you see a thief, you think it’s fine,

≈ and you participate with those who commit adultery.

19 You allow evil to come out of your mouth,

≈ and you use your words to deceive others.

20 You sit and speak against your brother.

≈ You slander your own mother’s son.

21 You’ve done these things, but I’ve stayed silent,

so you thought that I was someone just like yourself.

However, I’ll scold you

≈ and bring up all the things you have done, right in front of your eyes.

22 Give this careful consideration, all of you who forget God,

otherwise I will tear you to pieces,

and there’ll be no one to rescue you.

23 Anyone who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honours me,

and anyone who decides to follow God will experience his salvation.”