1A Psalm of Asaph. THE MIGHTY One, God, the Lord, speaks and calls the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
3Our God comes and does not keep silence; a fire devours before Him, and round about Him a mighty tempest rages.
4He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that He may judge His people:
5Gather together to Me My saints [those who have found grace in My sight], those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.
6And the heavens declare His righteousness (rightness and justice), for God, He is judge. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
7Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify to you and against you: I am God, your God.
8I do not reprove you for your sacrifices; your burnt offerings are continually before Me.
9I will accept no bull from your house nor he-goat out of your folds.
10For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills or upon the mountains where thousands are.
11I know and am acquainted with all the birds of the mountains, and the wild animals of the field are Mine and are with Me, in My mind.
12If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are Mine. [I Cor. 10:26.]
13Shall I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High,
15And call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honor and glorify Me.
16But to the wicked, God says: What right have you to recite My statutes or take My covenant or pledge on your lips,
17Seeing that you hate instruction and correction and cast My words behind you [discarding them]?
18When you see a thief, you associate with him, and you have taken part with adulterers.
19You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit.
20You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son.
21These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was once entirely like you. But [now] I will reprove you and put [the charge] in order before your eyes.
22Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
23He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors and glorifies Me; and he who orders his way aright [who prepares the way that I may show him], to him I will demonstrate the salvation of God.