A psalm of Asaph.
1The Lord, the Mighty One, is God,
and he has spoken;
he has summoned all humanity
from where the sun rises to where it sets.
2From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines in glorious radiance.
3Our God approaches,
and he is not silent.
Fire devours everything in his way,
and a great storm rages around him.
4He calls on the heavens above and earth below
to witness the judgment of his people.
5“Bring my faithful people to me—
those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices.”
6Then let the heavens proclaim his justice,
for God himself will be the judge. Interlude
7“O my people, listen as I speak.
Here are my charges against you, O Israel:
I am God, your God!
8I have no complaint about your sacrifices
or the burnt offerings you constantly offer.
9But I do not need the bulls from your barns
or the goats from your pens.
10For all the animals of the forest are mine,
and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.
11I know every bird on the mountains,
and all the animals of the field are mine.
12If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for all the world is mine and everything in it.
13Do I eat the meat of bulls?
Do I drink the blood of goats?
14Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,
and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
15Then call on me when you are in trouble,
and I will rescue you,
and you will give me glory.”
16But God says to the wicked:
“Why bother reciting my decrees
and pretending to obey my covenant?
17For you refuse my discipline
and treat my words like trash.
18When you see thieves, you approve of them,
and you spend your time with adulterers.
19Your mouth is filled with wickedness,
and your tongue is full of lies.
20You sit around and slander your brother—
your own mother’s son.
21While you did all this, I remained silent,
and you thought I didn’t care.
But now I will rebuke you,
listing all my charges against you.
22Repent, all of you who forget me,
or I will tear you apart,
and no one will help you.
23But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.
If you keep to my path,
I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
