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¹ El, God, the Lord speaks,
and summons the earth to come from the east and west.
² From Zion, the most beautiful of all places,
God comes in splendor.
³ Our God approaches and is not silent;
consuming fire goes ahead of him
and all around him a storm rages.
⁴ He summons the heavens above,
as well as the earth, so that he might judge his people.
⁵ He says:
"Assemble my covenant people before me,
those who ratified a covenant with me by sacrifice!"
⁶ The heavens declare his fairness,
for God is judge. (Selah)
⁷ He says:
"Listen my people! I am speaking!
Listen Israel! I am accusing you!
I am God, your God!
⁸ I am not condemning you because of your sacrifices,
or because of your burnt sacrifices that you continually offer me.
⁹ I do not need to take a bull from your household
or goats from your sheepfolds.
¹⁰ For every wild animal in the forest belongs to me,
as well as the cattle that graze on a thousand hills.
¹¹ I keep track of every bird in the hills,
and the insects of the field are mine.
¹² Even if I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and all it contains belong to me.
¹³ Do I eat the flesh of bulls?
Do I drink the blood of goats?
¹⁴ Present to God a thank-offering!
Repay your vows to the sovereign One!
¹⁵ Pray to me when you are in trouble!
I will deliver you, and you will honor me!"
¹⁶ God says this to the evildoer:
"How can you declare my commands,
and talk about my covenant?
¹⁷ For you hate instruction
and reject my words.
¹⁸ When you see a thief, you join him;
you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives.
¹⁹ You do damage with words,
and use your tongue to deceive.
²⁰ You plot against your brother;
you slander your own brother.
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!
²² Carefully consider this, you who reject God!
Otherwise I will rip you to shreds
and no one will be able to rescue you.
²³ Whoever presents a thank-offering honors me.
To whoever obeys my commands, I will reveal my power to deliver."