June 8 – Psalms 50 and 51 from the Old Testament

Psalms 50 and 51 – Psalm 50

A psalm by Asaph.

50:1 El, God, the Lord speaks,

and summons the earth to come from the east and west.

50:2 From Zion, the most beautiful of all places,

God comes in splendor.

50:3 Our God approaches and is not silent;

consuming fire goes ahead of him

and all around him a storm rages.

50:4 He summons the heavens above,

as well as the earth, so that he might judge his people.

50:5 He says:

“Assemble my covenant people before me,

those who ratified a covenant with me by sacrifice!”

50:6 The heavens declare his fairness,

for God is judge. (Selah)

50:7 He says:

“Listen my people! I am speaking!

Listen Israel! I am accusing you!

I am God, your God!

50:8 I am not condemning you because of your sacrifices,

or because of your burnt sacrifices that you continually offer me.

50:9 I do not need to take a bull from your household

or goats from your sheepfolds.

50:10 For every wild animal in the forest belongs to me,

as well as the cattle that graze on a thousand hills.

50:11 I keep track of every bird in the hills,

and the insects of the field are mine.

50:12 Even if I were hungry, I would not tell you,

for the world and all it contains belong to me.

50:13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls?

Do I drink the blood of goats?

50:14 Present to God a thank-offering!

Repay your vows to the sovereign One!

50:15 Pray to me when you are in trouble!

I will deliver you, and you will honor me!”

50:16 God says this to the evildoer:

“How can you declare my commands,

and talk about my covenant?

50:17 For you hate instruction

and reject my words.

50:18 When you see a thief, you join him;

you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives.

50:19 You do damage with words,

and use your tongue to deceive.

50:20 You plot against your brother;

you slander your own brother.

50:21 When you did these things, I was silent,

so you thought I was exactly like you.

But now I will condemn you

and state my case against you!

50:22 Carefully consider this, you who reject God!

Otherwise I will rip you to shreds

and no one will be able to rescue you.

50:23 Whoever presents a thank-offering honors me.

To whoever obeys my commands, I will reveal my power to deliver.”

Psalm 51

For the music director; a psalm of David, written when Nathan the prophet confronted him after David’s affair with Bathsheba.

51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your loyal love!

Because of your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts!

51:2 Wash away my wrongdoing!

Cleanse me of my sin!

51:3 For I am aware of my rebellious acts;

I am forever conscious of my sin.

51:4 Against you – you above all – I have sinned;

I have done what is evil in your sight.

So you are just when you confront me;

you are right when you condemn me.

51:5 Look, I was guilty of sin from birth,

a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.

51:6 Look, you desire integrity in the inner man;

you want me to possess wisdom.

51:7 Sprinkle me with water and I will be pure;

wash me and I will be whiter than snow.

51:8 Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven!

May the bones you crushed rejoice!

51:9 Hide your face from my sins!

Wipe away all my guilt!

51:10 Create for me a pure heart, O God!

Renew a resolute spirit within me!

51:11 Do not reject me!

Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me!

51:12 Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance!

Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey!

51:13 Then I will teach rebels your merciful ways,

and sinners will turn to you.

51:14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, the God who delivers me!

Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your deliverance.

51:15 O Lord, give me the words!

Then my mouth will praise you.

51:16 Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it;

you do not desire a burnt sacrifice.

51:17 The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit –

O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.

51:18 Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her!

Fortify the walls of Jerusalem!

51:19 Then you will accept the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings;

then bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.