1 T he Powerful One, God, the Lord, has spoken. And He calls the earth from where the sun rises to where the sun goes down.

A Psalm of Asaph. The God of gods -- Jehovah -- hath spoken, And He calleth to the earth From the rising of the sun unto its going in.

2 G od shines from Zion, perfect in beauty.

From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shone.

3 M ay our God come and not keep quiet. A fire burns before Him, and around Him is a powerful storm.

Our God cometh, and is not silent, Fire before Him doth devour, And round about him it hath been very tempestuous.

4 H e calls the heavens above, and the earth, that He may judge His people:

He doth call unto the heavens from above, And unto the earth, to judge His people.

5 “ Gather My holy ones to Me, those who have made an agreement with Me by their gifts given on an altar.”

Gather ye to Me My saints, Making covenant with Me over a sacrifice.

6 A nd the heavens will tell how right and good He is, for God Himself is judge.

And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself judge. Selah.

7 “ Listen, O My people, and I will speak. O Israel, I will speak against you. I am God, your God.

Hear, O My people, and I speak, O Israel, and I testify against thee, God, thy God I.

8 I do not speak sharp words to you for your gifts given on an altar. And your burnt gifts are always before Me.

Not for thy sacrifices do I reprove thee, Yea, thy burnt-offerings before Me continually.

9 I will not take a young bull out of your house, or male goats out of your fields.

I take not from thy house a bullock, From thy folds he goats.

10 F or every animal among the trees is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.

For Mine every beast of the forest, The cattle on the hills of oxen.

11 I know every bird of the mountains. And all things that move in the field are Mine.

I have known every fowl of the mountains, And the wild beast of the field with Me.

12 I f I were hungry, I would not tell you. For the world is Mine, and all that is in it.

If I am hungry I tell not to thee, For Mine the world and its fulness.

13 S hould I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of male goats?

Do I eat the flesh of bulls, And drink the blood of he-goats?

14 G ive a gift of thanks on the altar to God. And pay your promises to the Most High.

Sacrifice to God confession, And complete to the Most High thy vows.

15 C all on Me in the day of trouble. I will take you out of trouble, and you will honor Me.”

And call Me in a day of adversity, I deliver thee, and thou honourest Me.

16 B ut to the sinful, God says: “What right do you have to tell of My Laws, and take My agreement in your mouth?

And to the wicked hath God said: What to thee -- to recount My statutes? That thou liftest up My covenant on thy mouth?

17 F or you hate to be told what to do, and you throw My words behind you.

Yea, thou hast hated instruction, And dost cast My words behind thee.

18 W hen you see a robber, you are pleased with him. And you join those who do sex sins.

If thou hast seen a thief, Then thou art pleased with him, And with adulterers thy portion.

19 Y ou say bad things with your mouth, and you lie with your tongue.

Thy mouth thou hast sent forth with evil, And thy tongue joineth deceit together,

20 Y ou sit and speak against your brother. You talk against your own mother’s son.

Thou sittest, against thy brother thou speakest, Against a son of thy mother givest slander.

21 Y ou have done these things, and I have kept quiet. You thought that I was just like you. But I will speak sharp words to you, and tell you who is guilty to your face.

These thou didst, and I kept silent, Thou hast thought that I am like thee, I reprove thee, and set in array before thine eyes.

22 “ Now think about this, you who forget God, or I will tear you in pieces and there will be no one to save you.

Understand this, I pray you, Ye who are forgetting God, Lest I tear, and there is no deliverer.

23 H e who gives a gift of thanks honors Me. And to him who makes his way right, I will show him the saving power of God.”

He who is sacrificing praise honoureth Me, As to him who maketh a way, I cause him to look on the salvation of God!