Psalms 50

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 50

1¶ A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, [even] the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.

2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

4He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

5Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

6And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God [is] judge himself. Selah.

7¶ Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I [am] God, [even] thy God.

8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, [to have been] continually before me.

9I will take no bullock out of thy house, [nor] he goats out of thy folds.

10For every beast of the forest [is] mine, [and] the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field [are] mine.

12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world [is] mine, and the fulness thereof.

13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

16¶ But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

20Thou sittest [and] speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.

21These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove thee, and set [them] in order before thine eyes.

22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear [you] in pieces, and [there be] none to deliver.

23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth [his] conversation [aright] will I shew the salvation of God.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Psalm 50 portrays God, the mighty LORD, summoning all creation to witness His judgment of His people. He declares that He does not desire material sacrifices, as all things belong to Him, but rather seeks thanksgiving, the payment of vows, and calling upon Him in trouble. The psalm then sternly rebukes the wicked who profess God's statutes yet practice evil, concluding with a promise of salvation for those who offer praise and order their lives aright.

Medium Summary

The psalm opens with a majestic portrayal of God, the LORD, speaking from Zion and summoning the heavens and earth to witness His coming judgment upon His people, Israel. He clarifies that He does not need their animal sacrifices, for He is the sovereign owner of all creation and would not be hungry if He desired. Instead, God calls for spiritual offerings: thanksgiving, the fulfillment of vows, and prayer in times of trouble, promising deliverance and glory in return. A sharp contrast is then drawn to the wicked, whom God rebukes for presuming to declare His statutes while hating instruction, engaging in theft, adultery, and slander. God reveals that His past silence did not imply approval, and He will now set their sins in order before their eyes, warning them of severe consequences if they forget Him. The psalm concludes by reaffirming that true glorification comes through praise and righteous living, leading to the salvation of God.

Long Summary

Psalm 50, a psalm of Asaph, begins with a grand theological declaration: the mighty God, the LORD, has spoken and called forth the entire earth from east to west. From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth, preparing to come in a tempestuous fire to judge His people. He summons the heavens and the earth as witnesses, commanding the gathering of His saints who made a covenant with Him by sacrifice, so that the heavens may declare His righteousness as God Himself is judge. God then addresses His people, Israel, clarifying that He does not reprove them for their continual sacrifices, nor does He need their bullocks or he-goats. He asserts His absolute sovereignty, stating that every beast of the forest, the cattle on a thousand hills, and all fowls and wild beasts are His; if He were hungry, He would not tell man, for the world and its fullness belong to Him. He questions whether He eats the flesh of bulls or drinks the blood of goats, thereby emphasizing the spiritual nature of true worship. Instead, He commands them to offer thanksgiving, pay their vows to the Most High, and call upon Him in the day of trouble, promising deliverance and that they shall glorify Him. The psalm then shifts to a severe rebuke of the wicked, questioning their right to declare His statutes or take His covenant in their mouth, given their hatred of instruction and rejection of His words. God exposes their hypocrisy, detailing their consent to thieves, participation with adulterers, and engagement in evil speech, deceit, and slander against their own kin. God reveals that His past silence led them to believe He was like them, but He will now reprove them and set their sins before their eyes, warning those who forget Him of utter destruction. The psalm concludes with a powerful summary: whoever offers praise glorifies God, and to him who orders his conversation (conduct) aright, God will show His salvation.

Core Concepts

  • Divine JudgmentGod, the LORD, is depicted as a coming judge, summoning all creation to witness His righteous judgment upon His people, accompanied by fire and tempest.
  • God's Sovereignty and OwnershipThe psalm emphasizes God's absolute ownership of all creation, including all animals, asserting that He needs nothing from humanity and would not be dependent on their material sacrifices.
  • True Worship vs. RitualGod clarifies that He does not desire mere animal sacrifices but rather spiritual offerings such as thanksgiving, the payment of vows, and calling upon Him in times of trouble.
  • Rebuke of the WickedGod sternly condemns those who outwardly profess His law and covenant but inwardly hate instruction, engage in theft, adultery, slander, and other forms of evil.
  • Hypocrisy ExposedThe wicked are rebuked for their hypocrisy, as they speak of God's statutes while their actions betray a deep-seated rejection of His commands, having mistaken God's silence for approval.
  • Salvation through Righteous LivingThe psalm concludes by stating that those who offer praise and order their 'conversation' (conduct or way of life) aright will be shown the salvation of God.