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God Wants True Worship

A psalm of Asaph [C a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; 1 Chr. 6:39; 15:17; 2 Chr. 5:12].

50 The God of gods, the Lord, speaks.
    He ·calls [proclaims to; summons] the earth from the rising to the setting sun.
God shines from ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple],
    ·whose beauty is perfect [L the perfection of beauty; 48:2; Lam. 2:15].
Our God comes, and he will not be silent.
    A fire ·burns [consumes] in front of him [Heb. 12:29],
    and a ·powerful storm [whirlwind; tempest] surrounds him [Is. 66:15].
He ·calls to [summons] the ·sky [heavens] above and to the earth
    that he might judge his people.
He says, “Gather around, you ·who worship me [holy ones; saints],
    who have made an ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with me, using a sacrifice [Ex. 24:5–8].”
God is the judge,
    and even the ·skies say he is right [heavens proclaim his righteousness]. ·Selah [Interlude]

God says, “My people, listen to me;
    Israel, I will ·testify [witness] against you.
    I am God, your God.
I do not ·scold [reprimand; rebuke] you for your sacrifices.
    You always bring me your burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17].
But I do not ·need [or accept] bulls from your ·stalls [L house]
    or goats from your ·pens [folds],
10 because every animal of the forest is already mine.
    The cattle on a thousand hills are mine.
11 I know every bird on the mountains,
    and every living thing in the fields is mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
    because the earth and ·everything in it [L its fullness] are mine.
13 ·I don’t [L Do I…?] eat the meat of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats.
14 Give an ·offering to show thanks [thank offering] to God [Lev. 7:12; 22:29; Heb. 13:15].
    Give God Most High what you have ·promised [vowed].
15 Call to me in times of ·trouble [distress].
    I will ·save [rescue; T deliver] you, and you will ·honor [glorify] me.”

16 But God says to the wicked,
    “Why do you ·talk about [recount] my ·laws [statutes; ordinances; requirements]?
    Why do you ·mention [L lift up on your mouth] my ·agreement [covenant; treaty]?
17 You hate my ·teachings [instruction; discipline; Prov. 1:7]
    and turn your back on what I say.
18 When you see a thief, you ·join [delight in; or run with] him.
    ·You take part in adultery [Your lot/portion is with adulterers].
19 You ·don’t stop your mouth from speaking evil [L send your mouth into evil],
    and your tongue ·makes up lies [L is yoked to deception].
20 You sit around and speak against your brother
    and ·lie [L give a stain/fault] about your mother’s son.
21 I have kept quiet while you did these things,
    so you thought I was just like you.
But I will ·scold [reprimand; reprove] you
    and ·accuse [indict] you ·to your face [L before your eyes].

22 “·Think about [Understand] this, you who forget God.
    Otherwise, I will tear you apart,
    and no one will ·save [protect] you.
23 Those people ·honor [glorify] me
    who bring me ·offerings to show thanks [thank offerings; v. 14].
And I, God, will save those who ·do that [L go on my way/path].”

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