God Is the Judge

501 The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks,
and calls the earth from sunrise to sunset. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines forth. 3 Our God comes, and does not keep silent.
A fire devours before him.
It is very stormy around him. 4 He calls to the heavens above,
to the earth, that he may judge his people: 5 “Gather my saints together to me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” 6 The heavens shall declare his righteousness,
for God himself is judge. Selah.

7 “Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, and I will testify against you.
I am God, your God. 8 I don’t rebuke you for your sacrifices.
Your burnt offerings are continually before me. 9 I have no need for a bull from your stall,
nor male goats from your pens. 10 For every animal of the forest is mine,
and the livestock on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the mountains.
The wild animals of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it. 13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls,
or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
Pay your vows to the Most High. 15 Call on me in the day of trouble.
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

16 But to the wicked God says,
“What right do you have to declare my statutes,
that you have taken my covenant on your lips, 17 seeing you hate instruction,
and throw my words behind you? 18 When you saw a thief, you consented with him,
and have participated with adulterers. 19 “You give your mouth to evil.
Your tongue frames deceit. 20 You sit and speak against your brother.
You slander your own mother’s son. 21 You have done these things, and I kept silent.
You thought that the I was just like you.
I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes. 22 “Now consider this, you who forget God,
lest I tear you into pieces, and there be none to deliver. 23 Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me,
and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”

The Folly and Wickedness of Men

531 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity.
There is no one who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven on the children of men,
to see if there are any who understood,
who seek after God. 3 Every one of them has gone back.
They have become filthy together.
There is no one who does good, no, not one. 4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
who eat up my people as they eat bread,
and don’t call on God? 5 There they were in great fear, where no fear was,
for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you.
You have put them to shame,
because God has rejected them. 6 Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God brings back his people from captivity,
then Jacob shall rejoice,
and Israel shall be glad.

A Prayer for Help against the Foe

601 God, you have rejected us.
You have broken us down.
You have been angry.
Restore us, again. 2 You have made the land tremble.
You have torn it.
Mend its fractures,
for it quakes. 3 You have shown your people hard things.
You have made us drink the wine that makes us stagger. 4 You have given a banner to those who fear you,
that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. 5 So that your beloved may be delivered,
save with your right hand, and answer us.

6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:
“I will triumph.
I will divide Shechem,
and measure out the valley of Succoth. 7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine.
Ephraim also is the defense of my head.
Judah is my scepter. 8 Moab is my wash basin.
I will throw my shoe on Edom.
I shout in triumph over Philistia.” 9 Who will bring me into the strong city?
Who has led me to Edom? 10 Haven’t you, God, rejected us?
You don’t go out with our armies, God. 11 Give us help against the adversary,
for the help of man is vain. 12 Through God we shall do valiantly,
for it is he who will tread down our adversaries.

God Abases the Wicked and Exalts the Righteous

751 We give thanks to you, God.
We give thanks, for your Name is near.
Men tell about your wondrous works. 2 When I choose the appointed time,
I will judge blamelessly. 3 The earth and all its inhabitants quake.
I firmly hold its pillars. Selah. 4 I said to the arrogant, “Don’t boast!”
I said to the wicked, “Don’t lift up the horn. 5 Don’t lift up your horn on high.
Don’t speak with a stiff neck.”

6 For neither from the east, nor from the west,
nor yet from the south, comes exaltation. 7 But God is the judge.
He puts down one, and lifts up another. 8 For in the hand of Yahweh there is a cup,
full of foaming wine mixed with spices.
He pours it out.
Indeed the wicked of the earth drink and drink it to its very dregs. 9 But I will declare this forever:
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 I will cut off all the horns of the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.