50:1 The Almighty God, the LORD, speaks; he calls to the whole earth from east to west. |
50:2 God shines from Zion, the city perfect in its beauty. |
50:3 Our God is coming, but not in silence; a raging fire is in front of him, a furious storm around him. |
50:4 He calls heaven and earth as witnesses to see him judge his people. |
50:5 He says, "Gather my faithful people to me, those who made a covenant with me by offering a sacrifice." |
50:6 The heavens proclaim that God is righteous, that he himself is judge. |
50:7 "Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel. I am God, your God. |
50:8 I do not reprimand you because of your sacrifices and the burnt offerings you always bring me. |
50:9 And yet I do not need bulls from your farms or goats from your flocks; |
50:10 all the animals in the forest are mine and the cattle on thousands of hills. |
50:11 All the wild birds are mine and all living things in the fields. |
50:12 "If I were hungry, I would not ask you for food, for the world and everything in it is mine. |
50:13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? |
50:14 Let the giving of thanks be your sacrifice to God, and give the Almighty all that you promised. |
50:15 Call to me when trouble comes; I will save you, and you will praise me." |
50:16 But God says to the wicked, "Why should you recite my commandments? Why should you talk about my covenant? |
50:17 You refuse to let me correct you; you reject my commands. |
50:18 You become the friend of every thief you see, and you associate with adulterers. |
50:19 "You are always ready to speak evil; you never hesitate to tell lies. |
50:20 You are ready to accuse your own relatives and to find fault with them. |
50:21 You have done all this, and I have said nothing, so you thought that I am like you. But now I reprimand you and make the matter plain to you. |
50:22 "Listen to this, you that ignore me, or I will destroy you, and there will be no one to save you. |
50:23 Giving thanks is the sacrifice that honors me, and I will surely save all who obey me." |