¹A psalm by Asaph. El, God, the Lord has spoken, and summoned the earth to come from the east and west.²From Zion, the most beautiful of all places, God has come in splendor. ³“May our God come and not be silent.” Consuming fire goes ahead of him, and all around him a storm rages.⁴He summons the heavens above, as well as the earth, so that he might judge his people. ⁵He says: “Assemble my covenant people before me, those who ratified a covenant with me by sacrifice.” ⁶The heavens declare his fairness, for God is judge. (Selah)⁷He says: “Listen, my people. I am speaking! Listen, Israel. I am accusing you. I am God, your God! ⁸I am not condemning you because of your sacrifices, or because of your burnt sacrifices that you continually offer me.⁹I do not need to take a bull from your household or goats from your sheepfolds. ¹⁰For every wild animal in the forest belongs to me, as well as the cattle that graze on a thousand hills. ¹¹I keep track of every bird in the hills, and the insects of the field are mine. ¹²Even if I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all it contains belong to me.¹³Do I eat the flesh of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? ¹⁴Present to God a thank offering. Repay your vows to the Most High.¹⁵Pray to me when you are in trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”¹⁶God says this to the evildoer: “How can you declare my commands, and talk about my covenant? ¹⁷For you hate instruction and reject my words. ¹⁸When you see a thief, you join him; you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives. ¹⁹You do damage with words, and use your tongue to deceive. ²⁰You plot against your brother; you slander your own brother. ²¹When you did these things, I was silent, so you thought I was exactly like you. But now I will condemn you and state my case against you.²²Carefully consider this, you who reject God. Otherwise I will rip you to shreds and no one will be able to rescue you.²³Whoever presents a thank offering honors me. To whoever obeys my commands, I will reveal my power to deliver.”