1 - ?A psalm of Asaph.?
The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
2 - From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
3 - Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.
4 - He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 - "Gather to me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
6 - And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice.
7 - "Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God.
8 - I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9 - I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,
10 - for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 - I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.
12 - If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 - Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14 - "Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 - and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
16 - But to the wicked person, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?
17 - You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.
18 - When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19 - You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.
20 - You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother's son.
21 - When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly
22 - "Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
23 - Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless