1 God, the LORD, has spoken. He has summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting place.
2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shined forth.
3 Our God has appeared and he has not been silent; a devouring fire blazed before him, and a mighty storm swirled around him.
4 He summoned the heavens above and the earth below, to sit in judgment on his people.
5 "Assemble before me, my saints, who have entered into my covenant by sacrifice."
6 The heavens revealed his justice, for God is himself the judge. Interlude
7 "Listen, my people, for I am making a pronouncement: Israel, I, God, your God, am testifying against you.
8 I do not rebuke you because of your sacrifices; indeed, your burnt offerings are continuously before me.
9 I will no longer accept a sacrificial bull from your household; nor goats from your pens.
10 Indeed, every animal of the forest is mine, even the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds in the mountains; indeed, everything that moves in the field is mine.
12 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is mine along with everything in it.
13 Why should I eat the flesh of oxen or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer to God a thanksgiving praise; pay your vows to the Most High.
15 Call on me in the day of distress; I will deliver you, and you will glorify me."
16 As for the wicked, God says, "How dare you recite my statutes or speak about my covenant with your lips!
17 You hate instruction and toss my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you befriend him, and you keep company with adulterers.
19 You give your mouth free reign for evil, and your tongue devises deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son.
21 These things you did, and I kept silent, because you assumed that I was like you. But now I am going to rebuke you, and I will set forth my case before your very own eyes."
22 Consider this, you who have forgotten God Otherwise, I will tear you in pieces and there will be no deliverer:
23 Whoever offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and I will reveal the salvation of God to whomever continues in my way." To the Director: A Davidic Psalm. When the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.