Psalm 50

Abraham Coles

3 Be sure, that when our God shall come.
His holy lips will not be dumb:
A fire before Him shall devour;
Round and above black tempests lower.

4 He both the heavens and earth will cite
To witness that He judges right:
5 "Let all My saints assembled be
That made a covenant with Me."

6 The heavens declare His righteousness,
And sinful earth the same confess:
For God Himself is Judge, and He
Is perfect truth and equity.

7 "Hear, Israel, I thee arraign;
Will speak against Thee, and complain,
I that am God, Thy God — draw nigh,
8 Not for thy sacrifices, I

"Will blame thee: thy burnt offering
Is frequent and most wearying.
9 No bullock I from thee require;
No he-goats from thy folds desire:

10 "Each beast is mine the forest fills;
The cattle on a thousand hills;
11 Birds of the mountains, one and all,
Beasts of the fields are at my call.

12 "If hungry, I'd not ask for thine;
The fulness of the world is Mine.
13 Think ye on flesh of bulls I feed?
That blood of goats for drink I need!

14 "Offer to God thanksgiving; pay
Thy righteous vows; and to Me pray
15 In trouble, and I'll answer thee;
And thou with praise shalt honor Me.

16 "But God saith to the wicked: What
Hast thou to do, thy right whence got
My statutes to declare, to take
17 Into thy mouth laws thou dost break?

18 "No vile companionship thee grieves;
Thy friends adulterers are and thieves:
19 Assassin thou, false to each trust,
20 That dost behind thy brother thrust.

21 "Meanwhile, because I silence kept,
Thou vainly thoughtest justice slept;
But all thy sins, stript of disguise,
I will array before thine eyes.

22 "O ye, that God forget, attend!
Lest I in pieces you shall rend.
23 To him who orders well his way
I My salvation will display."