Psalm 50

1    The Lord, the most mighty God, has spoken  

and called the world from the rising of the sun to its setting.

2    Out of Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth;  

our God comes and will not keep silence.

3    Consuming fire goes out before him  

and a mighty tempest stirs about him.

4    He calls the heaven above,  

and the earth, that he may judge his people:

5    ‘Gather to me my faithful,  

who have sealed my covenant with sacrifice.’

6    Let the heavens declare his righteousness,  

for God himself is judge.

7    Hear, O my people, and I will speak:  

‘I will testify against you, O Israel;

    for I am God, your God.

8    ‘I will not reprove you for your sacrifices,  

for your burnt offerings are always before me.

9    ‘I will take no bull out of your house,  

nor he-goat out of your folds,

10  ‘For all the beasts of the forest are mine,  

the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11  ‘I know every bird of the mountains  

and the insect of the field is mine.

12  ‘If I were hungry, I would not tell you,  

for the whole world is mine and all that fills it.

13  ‘Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls,  

or drink the blood of goats?

14  ‘Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving  

and fulfil your vows to God Most High.

15  ‘Call upon me in the day of trouble;  

I will deliver you and you shall honour me.’

16  But to the wicked, says God:  

‘Why do you recite my statutes

    and take my covenant upon your lips,

17  ‘Since you refuse to be disciplined  

and have cast my words behind you?

18  ‘When you saw a thief, you made friends with him  

and you threw in your lot with adulterers.

19  ‘You have loosed your lips for evil  

and harnessed your tongue to deceit.

20  ‘You sit and speak evil of your brother;  

you slander your own mother’s son.

21  ‘These things have you done, and should I keep silence?  

Did you think that I am even such a one as yourself?

22  ‘But no, I must reprove you,  

and set before your eyes the things that you have done.

23  ‘You that forget God, consider this well,  

lest I tear you apart and there is none to deliver you.

24  ‘Whoever offers me the sacrifice of thanksgiving honours me  

and to those who keep my way

    will I show the salvation of God.’

 

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.

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