Psalms

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PSALM 50^*

The Acceptable Sacrifice

1A psalm of Asaph.

I

The God of gods, the LORD,

has spoken and summoned the earth

from the rising of the sun to its setting.^a

2From Zion, the perfection of beauty,

God shines forth.^b

3Our God comes and will not be silent!

Devouring fire precedes him,

it rages strongly around him.^c

4He calls to the heavens above

and to the earth to judge his people:

5“Gather my loyal ones to me,

those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

6The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

for God himself is the judge.^d

Selah

II

7“Listen, my people, I will speak;

Israel, I will testify against you;

God, your God, am I.

8Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,

your burnt offerings are always before me.

9I will not take a bullock from your house,

or he-goats from your folds.^e

10For every animal of the forest is mine,

beasts by the thousands on my mountains.

11I know every bird in the heights;

whatever moves in the wild is mine.

12Were I hungry, I would not tell you,

for mine is the world and all that fills it.^f

13Do I eat the flesh of bulls

or drink the blood of he-goats?

14Offer praise as your sacrifice to God;^g

fulfill your vows to the Most High.

15Then call on me on the day of distress;^h

I will rescue you, and you shall honor me.”

III

16But to the wicked God says:

“Why do you recite my commandments

and profess my covenant with your mouth?

17You hate discipline;

you cast my words behind you!

18If you see a thief, you run with him;

with adulterers you throw in your lot.

19You give your mouth free rein for evil;

you yoke your tongue to deceit.

20You sit and speak against your brother,

slandering your mother’s son.

21When you do these things should I be silent?

Do you think that I am like you?

I accuse you, I lay out the matter before your eyes.

IV

22“Now understand this, you who forget God,

lest I start ripping apart and there be no rescuer.

23Those who offer praise as a sacrifice honor me;

I will let him whose way is steadfast

look upon the salvation of God.”ⁱ

* [Psalm 50] A covenant lawsuit stating that the sacrifice God really wants is the sacrifice of praise accompanied by genuine obedience (cf. Mi 6:1–8). It begins with a theophany and the summoning of the court (Ps 50:1–6). Then in direct address God explains what is required of the faithful (Ps 50:7–15), rebukes the hypocritical worshiper (Ps 50:16–21), and concludes with a threat and a promise (Ps 50:22–23; cf. Is 1:19–20).