PSALM 1950

The Acceptable Sacrifice

A psalm of Asaph.

1 The LORD, the God of gods,
has spoken and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

2 From Zion God shines forth. perfect in beauty.

3 Our God comes and will not be silent! Devouring fire precedes,
storming fiercely round about.

4 God summons the heavens above and the earth to the judgment of his people:

5 "Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

6 The heavens proclaim divine justice, for God alone is the judge. Selah

7 "Listen, my people, I will speak; Israel,
I will testify against you; God, your God, am I.

8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
nor for your holocausts, set before me daily.

9 I need no bullock from your house, no goats from your fold.

10 For every animal of the forest is mine,
beasts by the thousands on my mountains.

11 I know every bird of the heavens;
the creatures of the field belong to me.

12 Were I hungry, I would not tell you,
for mine is the world and all that fills it.

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

14 Offer praise as your sacrifice to God; fulfill your vows to the Most High.

15 Then call on me in time of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall honor me."

16 But to the wicked God says:
"Why do you recite my commandments and profess my covenant with your lips?

17 You hate discipline; you cast my words behind you!

18 When you see thieves, you befriend them;
with adulterers you throw in your lot.

19 You give your mouth free rein for evil;
you harness your tongue to deceit.

20 You sit maligning your own kin,
slandering the child of your own mother.

21 When you do these things should I be silent?
Or do you think that I am like you?
I accuse you, I lay the charge before you.

22 "Understand this, you who forget God, lest I attack you with no one to rescue.

23 Those who offer praise as a sacrifice honor me;
to the obedient I will show the salvation of God."