God, the Judge of the Righteous and the Wicked.

A Psalm of [a]Asaph.

1The Mighty One, God, the LORD, has spoken

And summoned the earth, from [b]the rising of the sun to its setting.

2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,

God has shone.

3May our God come and not keep silent;

Fire devours before Him,

And a storm is violently raging around Him.

4He summons the heavens above,

And the earth, to judge His people:

5“Gather My godly ones to Me,

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

6And the heavens declare His righteousness,

For God Himself is judge. Selah

7“Hear, My people, and I will speak;

Israel, I will testify [c]against you;

I am God, your God.

8“I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices,

And your burnt offerings are continually before Me.

9“I will not take a bull from your house,

Nor male goats from your folds.

10“For every animal of the forest is Mine,

The cattle on a thousand hills.

11“I know every bird of the mountains,

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

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

For the world is Mine, and [e]everything it contains.

13“Shall I eat the flesh of [f]bulls

Or drink the blood of male goats?

14“Offer God a sacrifice of thanksgiving

And pay your vows to the Most High;

15Call upon Me on the day of trouble;

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

16But to the wicked God says,

“What right do you have to tell of My statutes

And to take My covenant in your mouth?

17“For you yourself hate discipline,

And you throw My words behind you.

18“When you see a thief, you become friends with him,

And [g]you associate with adulterers.

19“You [h]let your mouth loose in evil,

And your tongue harnesses 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 just like you;

I will rebuke you and present the case before your eyes.

22“Now consider this, you who forget God,

Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be no one to save you.

23“He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;

And to him who sets his way properly

I will show the salvation of God.”