The Mighty One Calls

A Psalm of Asaph (gatherer).

1 The Mighty One, God the LORD {Elohim YHWH},

speaks and summons the earth

from where the sun rises to where it sets.

2From Zion, perfect in beauty,

God {Elohim} shines forth.

3Our God {Elohenu} approaches and will not be silent!

Consuming fire precedes Him,

and a tempest rages around Him.

4He summons the heavens above,

and the earth, that He may judge His people:

5“Gather to Me My saints,

who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

6And the heavens proclaim His righteousness,

for God {Elohim} Himself is Judge (He is a God of justice).a

Selah

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

O Israel (he wrestles with God), and I will testify against you:

I am God {Elohim}, your God.

8I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices,

and your burnt offerings are ever before Me.

9I have no need for a bull from your stall

or goats from your pens,

10for every beast of the forest is Mine—

the cattle on a thousand hills.

11I know every bird in the mountains,

and the creatures of the field are Mine.

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

for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.

13Do I eat the flesh of bulls,

or drink the blood of goats?

14Sacrifice a thank offering to God {Elohim},

and fulfill your vows to the Most High.

15Call upon Me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”

16To the wicked, however, God {Elohim} says,

“What right have you to recite My statutes

and to bear My covenant on your lips?

17For you hate My instruction

and cast My words behind you.

18When you see a thief, you befriend him,

and throw in your lot with adulterers.

19You unleash your mouth for evil

and harness your tongue to deceit.

20You sit and malign your brother;

you slander your own mother’s son.

21You have done these things, and I kept silent;

you thought I was (you thought the ‘I AM’ was)b just like you.

But now I rebuke you

and accuse you to your face \and I set it in order before your eyes/.c

22Now consider this, you who forget God,

lest I tear you to pieces,

with no one to rescue you:

23He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me,

and to him who rightly orders his way,

I will show the salvation of God {Elohim}.”