Psalms

(49) True Worship1The God of gods, the Lord has spoken; he summons the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting.

God has shone from Zion, perfect in beauty.

God is no longer silent, he comes; before him is a devouring fire, around him a raging storm.

He calls to the heavens above, and to the earth below, that he may judge his people:

“Gather before me, my faithful ones, who made a Covenant with me by sacrifice.”

The heavens will proclaim his sentence, for God himself is the judge.

“Hear, O my people, for I am speaking. I will accuse you, O Israel, I am God, your God!

Not for your sacrifices do I reprove you, for your burnt offerings are ever before me.

I need no bull from your stalls, nor he-goat from your pens.

For I own all the beasts of the forest and the animals of my thousand hills.

All the birds of the air I know; all that move in the fields are mine.

I need not tell you if I were hungry, for mine is the world and all that it contains.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

Yet, offer to God a sacrifice of thanks, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.

Call on me in time of calamity; I will deliver you, and you will glorify me.”

But God says this to the wicked: “What right have you to mouth my laws, or to talk about my Covenant?

You hate my commands and cast my words behind you.

You join a thief when you meet one; you keep company with adulterers.

You have a mouth of evil and a deceitful tongue.

You speak ill of your brother, and slander your own mother’s son.

Because I was silent while you did these things, you thought I was like you. But now I rebuke you and make this charge against you.

Give this a thought, you, who forget God; lest I tear you to pieces with no one to help you.

Those who give with thanks, offerings, honor me; but the one who walks blamelessly, I will show him the salvation of God.”