50 1 Because the Church is always full of hypocrites, 8 which do imagine that God will be worshipped with outward ceremonies only without the heart: and especially the Jews were of this opinion, because of their figures and ceremonies of the Law, thinking that their sacrifices were sufficient. 21 Therefore the Prophet doth reprove this gross error, and pronounceth the Name of God to be blasphemed where holiness is set in ceremonies. 23 For he declareth the worship of God to be spiritual, whereof are two principal parts, invocation and thanksgiving.
A Psalm of [a]Asaph.
1 The God of gods, even the Lord hath spoken and called the [b]earth from the rising up of the Sun, unto the going down thereof.
2 Out of Zion, which is the [c]perfection of beauty, hath God shined.
3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: [d]a fire shall devour before him, and a mighty tempest shall be moved round about him.
4 He shall call the heaven above, and [e]the earth to judge his people.
5 Gather my [f]Saints together unto me, those that make a covenant with me with [g]sacrifice.
6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is Judge himself. Selah.
7 Hear, O my people and I will speak: hear, O Israel, and I will testify unto thee: for I am God, even thy God.
8 I will not [h]reprove thee for thy sacrifices, or thy burnt offerings, that have not been continually before me.
9 I will take no bullock out of thine house, nor goats out of thy folds.
10 [i]For all the beasts of the forest are mine, and the beasts on a thousand mountains.
11 I know all the fowls on the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12 If I be hungry, I will not tell thee: for the world is mine and all that therein is.
13 [j]Will I eat the flesh of bulls? or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer unto God praise, and [k]pay thy vows unto the most High,
15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: so will I deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
16 But unto the wicked said God, [l]What hast thou to do to declare mine ordinances, that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth,
17 Seeing thou hatest [m]to be reformed, and hast cast my words behind thee?
18 For when thou seest a thief, [n]thou runnest with him, and thou art partaker with the adulterers.
19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and with thy tongue thou forgest deceit.
20 Thou [o]sittest, and speakest against thy brother, and slanderest thy mother’s son.
21 These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue: therefore thou thoughtest that I was like thee: but I will reprove thee, and [p]set them in order before thee.
22 Oh consider this ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none that can deliver you.
23 He that offereth [q]praise, shall glorify me: and to him that [r]disposeth his way aright, will I [s]show the salvation of God.
Footnotes
- Psalm 50:1 Who was either the author, or a chief singer, to whom it was committed.
- Psalm 50:1 To plead against his dissembling people before heaven and earth.
- Psalm 50:2 Because God had chosen it to have his Name there called upon, and also his image shined there, in the doctrine of the Law.
- Psalm 50:3 As when God gave his Law in mount Sinai, he appeared terrible with thunder and tempest, so will he appear terrible to take account for the keeping thereof.
- Psalm 50:4 As witnesses against the hypocrites.
- Psalm 50:5 God in respect of his elect calleth the whole body holy, Saints, and his people.
- Psalm 50:5 Which should know that Sacrifices are sealed of the covenant between God and his people, and not set religion therein.
- Psalm 50:8 For I pass not for sacrifices, except the true use be there, which is to confirm your faith in my promises.
- Psalm 50:10 Though he did delight in sacrifice, yet had he no need of man’s help thereunto.
- Psalm 50:13 Though man’s life for the infirmity thereof hath need of food, yet God whose life quickeneth all the world, hath no need of such means.
- Psalm 50:14 Show thyself mindful of God’s benefits by thanksgiving.
- Psalm 50:16 Why dost thou feign to be of my people, and talkest of my covenant, seeing thou art but an hypocrite?
- Psalm 50:17 And to live according to my word.
- Psalm 50:18 He showeth what are the fruits of them that contemn God’s word.
- Psalm 50:20 He noteth the cruelty of hypocrites, which spare not in their talk or judgment their own mother’s sons.
- Psalm 50:21 I will write all thy wicked deeds in a roll, and make thee to read and acknowledge them, whither thou wilt or no.
- Psalm 50:23 Under the which is contained faith and invocation.
- Psalm 50:23 As God hath appointed.
- Psalm 50:23 That is, declare myself to be his Savior.