Psalms 50

 

(otherwise known as “Cheaters Never Prosper”)

 

50 The Mighty One, God the Lord,

Has spoken and called the earth

From the rising of the sun to its going down.

2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,

God will shine forth.

3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent;

A fire shall devour before Him,

And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.

4 He shall call to the heavens from above,

And to the earth, that He may judge His people:

5 “Gather My saints together to Me,

Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

6 Let the heavens declare His righteousness,

For God Himself is Judge. Selah

7 “Hear, O My people, and I will speak,

O Israel, and I will testify against you;

I am God, your God!

8 I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices

Or your burnt offerings,

Which are continually before Me.

9 I will not take a bull from your house,

Nor goats out of your folds.

10 For every beast of the forest is Mine,

And the cattle on a thousand hills.

11 I know all the birds of the mountains,

And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.

12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you;

For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.

13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls,

Or drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer to God thanksgiving,

And pay your vows to the Most High.

15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

16 But to the wicked God says:

“What right have you to declare My statutes,

Or take My covenant in your mouth,

17 Seeing you hate instruction

And cast My words behind you?

18 When you saw a thief, you consented with him,

And have been a partaker with adulterers.

19 You give your mouth to evil,

And your tongue frames deceit.

20 You sit and speak against your brother;

You slander your own mother’s son.

21 These things you have done, and I kept silent;

You thought that I was altogether like you;

But I will rebuke you,

And set them in order before your eyes.

22 “Now consider this, you who forget God,

Lest I tear you in pieces,

And there be none to deliver:

23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;

And to him who orders his conduct aright

I will show the salvation of God.”