Psa 50 | HCSB | STEP | A psalm of Asaph . Yahweh , the God of gods speaks ; He summons the earth from east to west .

Psalms 50

God as Judge

1 A psalm of ^{▼▼Asaph: A musician appointed by David to oversee the music used in worship at the Temple; 12 psalms are attributed to Asaph.}Asaph. ^b

^{▼▼Yahweh/Yah: Or The Lord; the personal name of God in Hebrew; "Yah" is the shortened form of the name.}Yahweh, the God of gods ^{▼▼Or The Mighty One, God, the Lord, or The God of gods, the Lord} speaks;
He summons the earth from east to west. ^{▼▼Lit from the rising of the sun to its setting
,} ^f
2 From ^{▼▼Zion: Originally a term for the fortified section of Jerusalem and then, by extension, used for the temple and the city of Jerusalem both in the present time and in the future}Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God appears in radiance. ^{▼▼Or God shines forth
,} ⁱ
3 Our God is coming; He will not be silent!
Devouring fire precedes Him,
and a storm rages around Him. ^j
4 On high, He summons heaven and earth
in order to judge His people. ^k
5 “Gather My faithful ones to Me,
those who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” ^l
6 The heavens proclaim His righteousness, ^m
for God is the Judge. ^{n
,} ^{▼▼Selah: A Hebrew word whose meaning is uncertain; various interpretations include: (1) a musical notation, (2) a pause for silence, (3) a signal for worshipers to fall prostrate on the ground, (4) a term for the worshipers to call out, and (5) a word meaning "forever"}
Selah

7 “Listen, My people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel.
I am God, your God. ^p
8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices
or for your ^{▼▼burnt offering(s): Or holocaust, an offering completely burned to ashes; it was used in connection with worship, seeking God's favor, expiating sin, or averting judgment.}burnt offerings,
which are continually before Me. ^r
9 I will not accept a bull from your household
or male goats from your pens, ^s
10 for every animal of the forest is Mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird of the mountains, ^{▼▼LXX, Syr, Tg read heavens}
and the creatures of the field are Mine. ^u
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and everything in it is Mine. ^v
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats? ^w
14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God, ^x
and pay your vows to the ^{▼▼Most High: The Hebrew word is Elyon. It is often used with other names of God, such as El (God) or Yahweh (Lord); it is used to refer to God as the supreme being.}Most High. ^z
15 Call on Me in a day of trouble;
I will rescue you, and you will honor Me.” ^aa

16 But God says to the wicked:
“What right do you have to recite My statutes
and to take My covenant on your lips? ^ab
17 You hate instruction
and turn your back on My words. ^{▼▼Or and cast My words behind you
,} ^ad
18 When you see a thief,
you make friends with him,
and you associate with adulterers. ^ae
19 You unleash your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue for deceit. ^af
20 You sit, maligning your brother,
slandering your mother’s son. ^ag
21 You have done these things, and I kept silent;
you thought I was just like you. ^ah
But I will rebuke you
and lay out the case before you. ^{▼▼Lit out before your eyes
,} ^aj

22 “Understand this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you apart,
and there will be no one to rescue you. ^ak
23 Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me,
and whoever orders his conduct,
I will show him the salvation of God.” ^al