God Himself Is Judge
A Psalm of aAsaph.
bThe Mighty One, God the Lord,
speaks and summons the earth
cfrom the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion, athe perfection of beauty,
bGod shines forth.
3 Our God comes; he adoes not keep silence;
before him is a devouring bfire,
around him a mighty tempest.
4 aHe calls to the heavens above
and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 “Gather to me my faithful ones,
who made aa covenant with me by sacrifice!”
6 aThe heavens declare his righteousness,
for bGod himself is judge! Selah
7 a“Hear, O my people, and I will speak;
O Israel, I will testify against you.
bI am God, your God.
8 Not for your sacrifices ado I rebuke you;
your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9 I will not accept a bull from your house
or goats from your folds.
10 For every beast of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 aI know all the birds of the hills,
and all that moves in the field is mine.
12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
afor the world and its fullness are mine.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
14 aOffer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and bperform your vows to the Most High,
15 and acall upon me in the day of trouble;
I will bdeliver you, and you shall cglorify me.”
16 But to the wicked God says:
“What right have you to recite my statutes
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 aFor you hate discipline,
band you cast my words behind you.
18 If you see a thief, ayou are pleased with him,
band you keep company with adulterers.
19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil,
aand your tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother;
you slander your own mother’s son.
21 These things you have done, and I ahave been silent;
you thought that I was one like yourself.
But now I brebuke you and clay the charge before you.
22 “Mark this, then, you who aforget God,
lest I tear you apart, and there be bnone to deliver!
23 The one who aoffers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who borders his way rightly
I will show the csalvation of God!”