Psalm 50--God Wants True Worship

 ¹ The God of gods, the Lord, speaks.
       He calls the earth from the rising to the setting sun.
 ² God shines from Jerusalem,
       whose beauty is perfect.
 ³ Our God comes, and he will not be silent.
       A fire burns in front of him,
       and a powerful storm surrounds him.
 ⁴ He calls to the sky above and to the earth
       that he might judge his people.
 ⁵ He says, "Gather around, you who worship me,
       who have made an agreement with me, using a sacrifice."
 ⁶ God is the judge,
       and even the skies say he is right.    
                         Selah
 

 ⁷ God says, "My people, listen to me;
       Israel, I will testify against you.
       I am God, your God.
 ⁸ I do not scold you for your sacrifices.
       You always bring me your burnt offerings.
 ⁹ But I do not need bulls from your stalls
       or goats from your pens,
 ¹⁰ because every animal of the forest is already mine.
       The cattle on a thousand hills are mine.
 ¹¹ I know every bird on the mountains,
       and every living thing in the fields is mine.
 ¹² If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
       because the earth and everything in it are mine.
 ¹³ I don't eat the meat of bulls
       or drink the blood of goats.
 ¹⁴ Give an offering to show thanks to God.
       Give God Most High what you have promised.
 ¹⁵ Call to me in times of trouble.
       I will save you, and you will honor me."

 ¹⁶ But God says to the wicked,
       "Why do you talk about my laws?
       Why do you mention my agreement?
 ¹⁷ You hate my teachings
       and turn your back on what I say.
 ¹⁸ When you see a thief, you join him.
       You take part in adultery.
 ¹⁹ You don't stop your mouth from speaking evil,
       and your tongue makes up lies.
 ²⁰ You speak against your brother
       and lie about your mother's son.
 ²¹ I have kept quiet while you did these things,
       so you thought I was just like you.
    But I will scold you
       and accuse you to your face.

 ²² "Think about this, you who forget God.
       Otherwise, I will tear you apart,
       and no one will save you.
 ²³ Those people honor me
       who bring me offerings to show thanks.
    And I, God, will save those who do that." (Psalm 50, New Century Version) Pin It Now!