(A psalm by Asaph.)
What Pleases God
1 From east to west,
the powerful Lord God
has been calling together
everyone on earth.
2 God shines brightly from Zion,
the most beautiful city.
3 Our God approaches,
but not silently;
a flaming fire comes first,
and a storm surrounds him.
4 God comes to judge his people.
He shouts to the heavens
and to the earth,
5 “Call my followers together!
They offered me a sacrifice,
and we made an agreement.”
6 The heavens announce,
“God is the judge,
and he is always honest.”
7 My people, I am God!
Israel, I am your God.
Listen to my charges
against you.
8 Although you offer sacrifices
and always bring gifts,
9 I won't accept your offerings
of bulls and goats.
10 Every animal in the forest
belongs to me,
and so do the cattle
on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds
in the mountains,
and every wild creature
is in my care.
12 If I were hungry,
I wouldn't tell you,
because I own the world
and everything in it.
13 I don't eat the meat of bulls
or drink the blood of goats.
14 I am God Most High!
The only sacrifice I want
is for you to be thankful
and to keep your word.
15 Pray to me in time of trouble.
I will rescue you,
and you will honor me.
16 But to the wicked I say:
“You don't have the right
to mention my laws or claim
to keep our agreement!
17 You refused correction
and rejected my commands.
18 You made friends
with every crook you met,
and you liked people who break
their wedding vows.
19 You talked only about violence
and told nothing but lies;
20 you sat around gossiping,
ruining the reputation
of your own relatives.”
21 When you did all this,
I didn't say a word,
and you thought,
“God is just like us!”
But now I will accuse you.
22 You have ignored me!
So pay close attention
or I will tear you apart,
and no one can help you.
23 The sacrifice that honors me
is a thankful heart.
Obey me, and I, your God,
will show my power to save.
1 A Psalme of Asaph. The God of Gods, euen the Lord hath spoken and called the earth from the rising vp of the sunne vnto the going downe thereof. 2 Out of Zion, which is the perfection of beautie, hath God shined. 3 Our God shall come and shall not keepe silence: a fire shall deuoure before him, and a mightie tempest shall be mooued round about him. 4 Hee shall call the heauen aboue, and the earth to iudge his people. 5 Gather my Saints together vnto me, those that make a couenant with me with sacrifice. 6 And the heauens shall declare his righteousnes: for God is iudge himselfe. Selah. 7 Heare, O my people, and I wil speake: heare, O Israel, and I wil testifie vnto thee: for I am God, euen thy God. 8 I wil not reproue thee for thy sacrifices, or thy burnt offerings, that haue not bene continually before me. 9 I will take no bullocke out of thine house, nor goates out of thy foldes. 10 For all the beastes of the forest are mine, and the beastes on a thousand mountaines. 11 I knowe all the foules on the mountaines: and the wilde beastes of the fielde are mine. 12 If I bee hungry, I will not tell thee: for the world is mine, and all that therein is. 13 Will I eate the flesh of bulles? or drinke the blood of goates? 14 Offer vnto God praise, and pay thy vowes vnto the most High, 15 And call vpon me in the day of trouble: so will I deliuer thee, and thou shalt glorifie me. 16 But vnto the wicked said God, What hast thou to doe to declare mine ordinances, that thou shouldest take my couenant in thy mouth, 17 Seeing thou hatest to bee reformed, and hast cast my wordes behinde thee? 18 For when thou seest a thiefe, thou runnest with him, and thou art partaker with the adulterers. 19 Thou giuest thy mouth to euill, and with thy tongue thou forgest deceit. 20 Thou sittest, and speakest against thy brother, and slanderest thy mothers sonne. 21 These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue: therefore thou thoughtest that I was like thee: but I will reproue thee, and set them in order before thee. 22 Oh cosider this, ye that forget God, least I teare you in pieces, and there be none that can deliuer you. 23 He that offereth praise, shall glorifie mee: and to him, that disposeth his way aright, will I shew the saluation of God.