Psalm 50

W. van der Kamp, 1972

1. The Mighty One, the LORD, proclaims His Word;
   God speaks, and ev’ry where His voice is heard,
   And from the rising to the setting sun
   His summons stands, His high command is done.
   Out of His Zion God shines forth in splendor;
   Men to her perfect beauty homage render.
   
2. Our God will not keep silent but speak out;
   Devouring fire puts all His foes to rout.
   A mighty tempest round about Him swirls
   When He His summons at creation hurls.
   The heav’ns above, the earth below shall hear Him
   When He gives judgment to all those who fear Him.
   
3. “Go out and gather at My high decree
   My servants, who by sacrifice to Me
   Have made with Me a steadfast covenant;
   Those faithful ones, whom I My help shall grant.”
   The heav’ns declare Thy justice with elation,
   For God Himself is Judge and rules His nation.
   
4. “My people, I will speak, and hear Me well.
   I testify against you, Israel.
   I am the LORD, your God, whom you exalt.
   With all your sacrifice I find no fault;
   Your offerings are day and night before Me.
   I hear when you with songs of praise adore Me.
   
5. “The bulls which you to Me, your God, devote
   I do not need; I do not want your goats.
   The forest and its beasts are Mine alone,
   The cattle on a thousand hills I own;
   All birds I know, I give them life and feed them.
   Could I not take all creatures, should I need them?
   
6. “If I were hungry, why should you be told?
   Mine are the earth, the sea, and all they hold.
   Shall I then eat your herds, your cattle’s flesh,
   Or drink the blood of goats which you possess?
   Am I a man to ask your bread and water?
   Must I be nourished with the beasts you slaughter?
   
7. “Bring God your sacrifices in His house,
   And pay to Him, the LORD Most High, your vows.
   If days of trouble or distress come near;
   Then call on Me, for all your prayers I’ll hear
   And will deliver you, My hand will save you,
   And you shall praise Me for the help I gave you.”
   
8. God says to those who hold Him not in awe:
   “What right have you still to recite My law,
   The words which you about My covenant say,
   You wicked men, who thro My words away?
   When I rebuke you and of sin remind you,
   Then you cast all My warning words behind you.
   
9. ”You meet a thief and choose him for your friend,
   And with adulterers your days are spent.
   You give your mouth free rein for wickedness,
   Your tongue is eager slander to profess.
   You sit and speak but ill against your brother,
   And you malign the son of your own mother.
   
10. “These things you’ve done, and when I yet kept still
    You thought I was like you, in love with ill,
    But no I will rebuke you to your face,
    And you will feel the sting of My disgrace.
    Mark this, you who forget all that God gave you,
    Or I will rend you, and not one will save you.
    
11. “Blest is the man whom sin cannot entice,
    Who brings thanksgiving as his sacrifice
    Unto My house, that I his faith may see.
    That man is righteous, thus he honors Me;
    To him who shuns the wrong ways of temptation,
    That upright man I will show God’s salvation!”