Psalms 50
What Happens in This Chapter
God speaks and calls the whole earth together, from sunrise to sunset, like a judge calling a court to order. He tells his people he does not need their animal sacrifices, because every animal already belongs to him; what he wants is thanks and kept promises. Then he speaks to people who say his rules out loud while lying, stealing, and hurting others. The psalm ends by naming what pleases God: a thankful offering and a life lived the right way.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
1The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks. He calls the earth to listen, from where the sun rises to where it sets.
2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
2From Zion, the beautiful hill in Jerusalem where God's temple stood, God shines out.
3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
3Our God is coming, and he will not stay quiet. Fire burns ahead of him. A wild storm swirls all around him.
4He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
4He calls to the sky above and to the earth below. He is ready to judge his people.
5Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
5God says, "Bring my faithful people to me. They made a promise with me and sealed it with a sacrifice."
6And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
6The heavens announce that God is fair and right. God himself is the judge. Selah.
"Selah" is a Hebrew word that shows up all through the Psalms. Nobody is certain what it meant. It was probably a music mark, like a pause or a place to play louder.
7Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
7"Listen, my people, and I will speak. Israel, I will say what you have done. I am God, your God."
8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
8"I am not scolding you about your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are always there in front of me."
A burnt offering was an animal given to God and burned on an altar. It was a normal part of worship in Israel.
9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
9"I do not need a bull from your barn. I do not need goats from your pen."
10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
10"Every animal in the forest is mine. So are the cattle on a thousand hills."
11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
11"I know every bird in the mountains. Every creature in the fields belongs to me."
12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
12"If I were hungry, I would not tell you. The whole world and everything in it is mine."
13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
13"Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats?"
14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
14"Bring God a thank you offering. Keep the promises you made to the Most High God."
15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
15"Call to me when you are in trouble. I will save you, and you will honor me."
16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
16But to people who do evil, God says, "Why do you say my rules out loud? Why do you talk about my promise?"
17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee.
17"You hate it when I teach you. You throw my words away behind your back."
18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
18"When you see a thief, you join him. You team up with people who break their marriage promises."
19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
19"You use your mouth to say evil things. Your tongue makes up lies."
20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.
20"You sit and say bad things about your brother. You tell lies about your 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.
21"You did all this while I stayed quiet. You thought I was just like you. But now I will correct you. I will lay out what you did, right in front of your eyes."
22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
22"Think about this, you who forget God. If you do not, I will tear you to pieces. No one will be able to rescue you."
23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
23"Whoever brings me a thank you offering honors me. And I will show God's saving power to the one who lives the right way."
In 1611, "conversation" did not mean talking. It meant the way a person lives, day by day.
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