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# Psalm 50
## The Acceptable Sacrifice
1 A psalm of Asaph. ^psalm-50-1
### I
The God of gods, the LORD,
has spoken and summoned the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty, ^psalm-50-2
God shines forth.
3 Our God comes and will not be silent! ^psalm-50-3
Devouring fire precedes him,
it rages strongly around him.
4 He calls to the heavens above ^psalm-50-4
and to the earth to judge his people:
5 “Gather my loyal ones to me, ^psalm-50-5
those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, ^psalm-50-6
for God himself is the judge.
*Selah*
### II
7 “Listen, my people, I will speak; ^psalm-50-7
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I.
8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, ^psalm-50-8
your burnt offerings are always before me.
9 I will not take a bullock from your house, ^psalm-50-9
or he-goats from your folds.
10 For every animal of the forest is mine, ^psalm-50-10
beasts by the thousands on my mountains.
11 I know every bird in the heights; ^psalm-50-11
whatever moves in the wild is mine.
12 Were I hungry, I would not tell you, ^psalm-50-12
for mine is the world and all that fills it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls ^psalm-50-13
or drink the blood of he-goats?
14 Offer praise as your sacrifice to God; ^psalm-50-14
fulfill your vows to the Most High.
15 Then call on me on the day of distress; ^psalm-50-15
I will rescue you, and you shall honor me.”
### III
16 But to the wicked God says: ^psalm-50-16
“Why do you recite my commandments
and profess my covenant with your mouth?
17 You hate discipline; ^psalm-50-17
you cast my words behind you!
18 If you see a thief, you run with him; ^psalm-50-18
with adulterers you throw in your lot.
19 You give your mouth free rein for evil; ^psalm-50-19
you yoke your tongue to deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother, ^psalm-50-20
slandering your mother’s son.
21 When you do these things should I be silent? ^psalm-50-21
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, ^psalm-50-22
lest I start ripping apart and there be no rescuer.
23 Those who offer praise as a sacrifice honor me; ^psalm-50-23
I will let him whose way is steadfast
look upon the salvation of God.”
\* (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]).
a. (50:1) [Dt 10:17]; [Jos 22:22].
b. (50:2) [Ps 48:2].
c. (50:3) [Ps 97:3]; [Dn 7:10].
d. (50:6) ([[psalm-19|Ps 19]]:2]; [97:6].
e. (50:9) [Ps 69:32]; [Am 5:21] – [22].
f. (50:12) ([[psalm-24|Ps 24]]:1]; [89:12]; [Dt 10:14]; [[1-corinthians-10|1 Cor 10]]:26].
g. (50:14) [Heb 13:15].
h. (50:15) [Ps 77:3].
i. (50:23) [Ps 91:16].
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_New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C.
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