God Is the Judge

50¹ The Lord, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken; he has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets. ² From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance. ³ Our God approaches, and he is not silent. Fire devours everything in his way, and a great storm rages around him. ⁴ He calls on the heavens above and earth below to witness the judgment of his people. ⁵ "Bring my faithful people to me- those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices." ⁶ Then let the heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself will be the judge. Interlude

⁷ "O my people, listen as I speak. Here are my charges against you, O Israel: I am God, your God! ⁸ I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. ⁹ But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. ¹⁰ For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. ¹¹ I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. ¹² If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it. ¹³ Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? ¹⁴ Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. ¹⁵ Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory."

¹⁶ But God says to the wicked: "Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant? ¹⁷ For you refuse my discipline and treat my words like trash. ¹⁸ When you see thieves, you approve of them, and you spend your time with adulterers. ¹⁹ Your mouth is filled with wickedness, and your tongue is full of lies. ²⁰ You sit around and slander your brother- your own mother's son. ²¹ While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn't care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you. ²² Repent, all of you who forget me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you. ²³ But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God."

The Folly and Wickedness of Men

53¹ Only fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! ² God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. ³ But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one! ⁴ Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn't think of praying to God. ⁵ Terror will grip them, terror like they have never known before. God will scatter the bones of your enemies. You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them. ⁶ Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel? When God restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

A Prayer for Help against the Foe

60¹ You have rejected us, O God, and broken our defenses. You have been angry with us; now restore us to your favor. ² You have shaken our land and split it open. Seal the cracks, for the land trembles. ³ You have been very hard on us, making us drink wine that sent us reeling. ⁴ But you have raised a banner for those who fear you- a rallying point in the face of attack. Interlude ⁵ Now rescue your beloved people. Answer and save us by your power.

⁶ God has promised this by his holiness : "I will divide up Shechem with joy. I will measure out the valley of Succoth. ⁷ Gilead is mine, and Manasseh, too. Ephraim, my helmet, will produce my warriors, and Judah, my scepter, will produce my kings. ⁸ But Moab, my washbasin, will become my servant, and I will wipe my feet on Edom and shout in triumph over Philistia." ⁹ Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who will bring me victory over Edom? ¹⁰ Have you rejected us, O God? Will you no longer march with our armies? ¹¹ Oh, please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless. ¹² With God's help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.

God Abases the Wicked and Exalts the Righteous

75¹ We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds. ² God says, "At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked. ³ When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm. Interlude ⁴ "I warned the proud, 'Stop your boasting!' I told the wicked, 'Don't raise your fists! ⁵ Don't raise your fists in defiance at the heavens or speak with such arrogance.'"

⁶ For no one on earth-from east or west, or even from the wilderness- should raise a defiant fist. ⁷ It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall. ⁸ For the Lord holds a cup in his hand that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours out the wine in judgment, and all the wicked must drink it, draining it to the dregs. ⁹ But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. ¹⁰ For God says, "I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly."