The Lord has blessed me immensely with many graces in bible college and seminary. One of these gifts is learning how to study the biblical texts in their original language. One day, as I walked through the Hebrew texts of Psalm 50, I was particularly moved. This personal translation evolved out of my study that day:
Psalm 50
A Psalm of Asaph
1 God over creation—God, the Lord—
has spoken and has summoned the earth,
from the rising sun to its setting.
2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God beams forth.
3 Our God comes and he will certainly not keep silent,
a fire consumes before him,
and around him is a great storm.
4 He summons the heavens high above,
and the earth below, to judge his people.
5 “Gather to me all my loyal ones,
those who have entered into covenant with me by sacrifice.”
6 Let the heavens declare his righteousness—
for God, he is judge. Selah
7 “Hear, Oh my people, that I might speak;
Oh Israel that I might testify against you,
I am God, your God.
8 Not concerning your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
or your burnt offerings that are regularly before me.
9 I will not take a bull from your house,
or goats from your folds.
10 For all the animals of the forest are mine,
As are the herded beasts on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the hills,
and the moving things in the field are mine.
12 Even if I were hungry, I would not talk to you about it,
for the world is mine and all its fullness.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls,
or drink the blood of goats?
14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God,
and make your vows complete to God.
15 And call to me in the day of distress,
I will deliver you and you will glorify me!”
16 But, to the wicked God says,
“How is it that you to recount my statures,
or take my covenant upon your lips?
17 For you hate discipline,
and you throw my words away behind you.
18 If you see the thief you are pleased with him,
and you have your portion with adulterers.
19 You give your mouth over to evil,
and your tongue harnesses deceit.
20 You sit around and speak against your brother,
against the son of your mother you set slander.
21 You have done these things, and I have been silent,
so you think I’m just like you in this way;
but I will rebuke you and lay my charge before your eyes.
22 Now, understand this, you who forget your God,
lest I tear you apart without a deliverer,
23 the sacrificer of a thank offering glorifies me,
The one who sets the right path,
I will make him see the salvation of God.
2 Comments on "Psalm 50"
That’s awesome jon. I wish I could read the Hebrew texts and comprehend them like that. Lord willing, I’ll learn one day.
It is worth the struggle!