God Himself Is Judge

A Psalm of [†]Asaph.

1The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, has spoken,

And called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,

God has shone forth.

3May our God come and not be silent;

Fire devours before Him,

And a storm whirls around Him.

4He calls the heavens above,

And the earth, to render justice to His people:

5“Gather My holy ones to Me,

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

6And the heavens declare His righteousness,

For God Himself is judge. [†]Selah.

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

O Israel, I will testify [†]against you;

I am God, your God.

8I do not reprove you for your sacrifices,

And your burnt offerings are continually before Me.

9I shall take no young bull out of your house

Nor male goats out of your folds.

10For every beast of the forest is Mine,

The cattle on a thousand hills.

11I know every bird of the mountains,

And everything that moves in the field is [†]Mine.

12If I were hungry I would not tell you,

For the world is Mine, as well as its fullness.

13Shall I eat the flesh of [†]bulls

Or drink the blood of male goats?

14Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving

And pay your vows to the Most High;

15Call upon Me in the day of distress;

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

16But to the wicked God says,

“What right have you to recount My statutes

And to take My covenant in your mouth?

17For you hate discipline,

And you cast My words behind you.

18When you see a thief, you [†]are pleased with him,

And [†]you associate with adulterers.

19You [†]let your mouth loose in evil

And you harness your tongue for deceit.

20You sit and speak against your brother;

You slander your own mother’s son.

21These things you have done and I kept silent;

You thought that I was just like you;

I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.

22“Now consider this, you who forget God,

Lest I tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.

23He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies Me;

And he who [†]orders his way,

I shall show the salvation of God.”