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Psalm chapter 50

English Standard Version

1 The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 3Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest. 4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: 5"Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!" 6 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. 8Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. 9I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. 10For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. 12"If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. 13Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, 15and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." 16But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? 17 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you. 18If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers. 19"You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit. 20You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother 's son. 21These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. 22"Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver! 23The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"
New International Version

1A psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets. 2From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. 3Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages. 4He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people: 5"Gather to me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
6And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice. 7"Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God. 8I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. 9I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, 10for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. 11I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. 12If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 14"Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, 15and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
16But to the wicked person, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? 17You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. 18When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. 19You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. 20You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son.
21When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you. 22"Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: 23Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation."
New American Standard Bible

1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord, has spoken And summoned the earth, from 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 against you; I am God, your God. 8I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, And your burnt offerings are continually before Me. 9I will not take a bull from your house, Nor male goats from your folds. 10For every animal 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, and everything it contains. 13Shall I eat the flesh of bulls Or drink the blood of male goats? 14Offer 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? 17For you yourself hate discipline, And you throw My words behind you. 18When you see a thief, you become friends with him, And you associate with adulterers. 19You let your mouth loose in evil, And your tongue harnesses 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 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. 23He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who sets his way properly I will show the salvation of God.'
Christian Standard Bible

1A psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks; he summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God appears in radiance. 3Our God is coming; he will not be silent! Devouring fire precedes him, and a storm rages around him. 4On high, he summons heaven and earth in order to judge his people: 5"Gather my faithful ones to me, those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
6The heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God is the Judge. Selah 7"Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel. I am God, your God. 8I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or for your burnt offerings, which are continually before me. 9I will not take a bull from your household or male goats from your pens, 10for every animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. 12If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is mine. 13Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 14Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and pay your vows to the Most High.
15Call on me in a day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor me." 16But God says to the wicked: "What right do you have to recite my statutes and to take my covenant on your lips? 17You hate instruction and fling my words behind you. 18When you see a thief, you make friends with him, and you associate with adulterers. 19You unleash your mouth for evil and harness your tongue for deceit. 20You sit, maligning your brother, slandering your mother’s son.
21You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But I will rebuke you and lay out the case before you. 22"Understand this, you who forget God, or I will tear you apart, and there will be no one to rescue you. 23Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors me, and whoever orders his conduct, I will show him the salvation of God."
New Living Translation

1The Lord, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken; he has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets. 2From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance. 3Our God approaches, and he is not silent. Fire devours everything in his way, and a great storm rages around him. 4He calls on the heavens above and earth below to witness the judgment of his people. 5'Bring my faithful people to me — those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices.'
6Then let the heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself will be the judge. Interlude
7'O my people, listen as I speak. Here are my charges against you, O Israel: I am God, your God! 8I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. 9But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. 10For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. 11I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. 12If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it. 13Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? 14Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. 15Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.'
16But God says to the wicked: 'Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant? 17For you refuse my discipline and treat my words like trash. 18When you see thieves, you approve of them, and you spend your time with adulterers. 19Your mouth is filled with wickedness, and your tongue is full of lies. 20You sit around and slander your brother — your own mother’s son. 21While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you. 22Repent, all of you who forget me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you. 23But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.'
King James Version

1A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
4He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
5Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
6And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
7Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.
21These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
New King James Version

1{A Psalm of Asaph.} The Mighty One, God the Lord, Has spoken and called the earth From the rising of the sun to its going down. 2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth. 3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. 4 He shall call to the heavens from above, And to the earth, that He may judge His people: 5“Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
6Let the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is Judge. Selah
7“Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you; I am God, your God! 8 I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices Or your burnt offerings, Which are continually before Me. 9 I will not take a bull from your house, Nor goats out of your folds. 10For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. 11I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. 12“If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. 13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. 15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” 16But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth, 17 Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you? 18When you saw a thief, you consented with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers. 19You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames 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 altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes. 22“Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver: 23Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”

What does Psalm chapter 50 mean?

This segment was written by Asaph, who also composed psalms 73—83. His other works include frustration at the hypocrisy of his era and God's delayed response (Psalm 73:2–3; 74:10). Asaph was a worship leader during the time of David (1 Chronicles 16:7, 37).

In dramatic language, the psalm describes God as the transcendent Judge coming to deliver a verdict. The entire world is commanded to hear His statement. The introduction is like Joshua 22:22; it provides a three-part identification which calls Him "The Mighty One," "God," and "the Lᴏʀᴅ." His glory is like brilliant light, fire, and storms. God addresses His people, the nation of Israel (Psalm 50:1–6).

God's complaint against Israel is not that they fail to offer sacrifices. Rather, they offer sacrifices constantly, but the Lord does not accept them. He clarifies that He does not "need" to be given animals, since He already owns everything in creation. Nor does God require food. His purpose in commanding sacrifice is deeper than mindlessly performing rituals. His will is for Israel to perform these rites with a spirit of gratitude and humility. That glorifies God and invites His salvation (Psalm 50:7–15).

Instead, Israel had been arrogantly throwing the Lord's commandments aside and living in blatant sin. God makes note of explicit violations of the Ten Commandments, including theft and adultery (Exodus 20:14–15). The nation has been engaged in division and slander (Exodus 20:16); they tear each other apart, spiritually, while assuming God will not answer. His patience is not weakness, however. Those who refuse to repent will be torn apart, literally, without any hope of rescue. Those who seek the Lord with sincerity and gratitude will see "the salvation of God" (Psalm 50:16–23).
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