Psalm 50

A Psalm of Asaph.

SECOND VERSION (C.M.)

1        The mighty God, the Lord, hath spoke,

                   and call'd the earth upon,

          Ev'n from the rising of the sun

                   unto his going down.

2        From out of Sion, his own hill,

                   where the perfection high

          Of beauty is, from thence the Lord

                   hath shined gloriously.

3        Our God shall come, and shall no more

                   be silent, but speak out:

          Before him fire shall waste, great storms

                   shall compass him about.

4        He to the heavens from above,

                   and to the earth below,

          Shall call, that he his judgments may

                   before his people show.

5        Let all my saints together be

                   unto me gathered;

          Those that by sacrifice with me

                   a covenant have made.

6        And then the heavens shall declare

                   his righteousness abroad:

          Because the Lord himself doth come;

                   none else is judge but God.

7        Hear, O my people, and I'll speak;

                   O Israel by name,

          Against thee I will testify;

                   God, ev'n thy God, I am.

8        I for thy sacrifices few

                   reprove thee never will,

          Nor for burnt-off'rings to have been

                   before me offer'd still.

9        I'll take no bullock nor he-goats

                   from house nor folds of thine:

10      For beasts of forests, cattle all

                   on thousand hills, are mine.

11      The fowls are all to me well known

                   that mountains high do yield;

          And I do challenge as mine own

                   the wild beasts of the field.

12      If I were hungry, I would not

                   to thee for need complain;

          For earth, and all its fulness, doth

                   to me of right pertain.

13      That I to eat the flesh of bulls

                   take pleasure dost thou think?

          Or that I need, to quench my thirst,

                   the blood of goats to drink?

14      Nay, rather unto me, thy God,

                   thanksgiving offer thou:

          To the most High perform thy word,

                   and fully pay thy vow:

15      And in the day of trouble great

                   see that thou call on me;

          I will deliver thee, and thou

                   my name shalt glorify.

16      But God unto the wicked saith,

                   Why should'st thou mention make

          Of my commands? how dar'st thou in

                   thy mouth my cov'nant take?

17      Sith it is so that thou dost hate

                   all good instruction;

          And sith thou cast'st behind thy back,

                   and slight'st my words each one.

18      When thou a thief didst see, then straight

                   thou join'dst with him in sin,

          And with the vile adulterers

                   thou hast partaker been.

19      Thy mouth to evil thou dost give,

                   thy tongue deceit doth frame.

20      Thou sitt'st, and 'gainst thy brother speak'st,

                   thy mother's son to shame.

21      These things thou wickedly hast done,

                   and I have silent been:

          Thou thought'st that I was like thyself,

                   and did approve thy sin:

          But I will sharply thee reprove,

                   and I will order right

          Thy sins and thy transgressions

                   in presence of thy sight.

22      Consider this, and be afraid,

                   ye that forget the Lord,

          Lest I in pieces tear you all,

                   when none can help afford.

23      Who off'reth praise me glorifies:

                   I will shew God's salvation

          To him that ordereth aright

                   his life and conversation.