Psalm 50

⁷ God says, “Listen, my people, and I will speak.
    I will be a witness against you, Israel.
    I am God, your God.
⁸ I don’t bring charges against you because of your sacrifices.
    I don’t bring charges because of the burnt offerings you always bring me.
⁹ I don’t need a bull from your barn.
    I don’t need goats from your pens.
¹⁰ Every animal in the forest already belongs to me.
    And so do the cattle on a thousand hills.
¹¹ I own every bird in the mountains.
    The insects in the fields belong to me.
¹² If I were hungry, I wouldn’t tell you.
    The world belongs to me. And so does everything in it.
¹³ Do I eat the meat of bulls?
    Do I drink the blood of goats?
¹⁴ Bring me thank offerings, because I am your God.
    Carry out the promises you made to me, because I am the Most High God.
¹⁵ Call out to me when trouble comes.
    I will save you. And you will honor me.”

“What right do you have to speak the words of my laws?
    How dare you speak the words of my covenant!
¹⁷ You hate my teaching.
    You turn your back on what I say.
¹⁸ When you see a thief, you join him.
    You make friends with those who commit adultery.
¹⁹ You use your mouth to speak evil.
    You use your tongue to spread lies.
²⁰ You are a witness against your brother.
    You always tell lies about your own mother’s son.
²¹ When you did these things, I kept silent.
    So you thought I was just like you.
But now I’m going to bring you to court.
    I will bring charges against you.

²² “You who forget God, think about this.
    If you don’t, I will tear you to pieces.
    No one will be able to save you.
²³ People who sacrifice thank offerings to me honor me.
    To those who are without blame I will show my power to save.”