[A psalm by Asaph.]
What Pleases God
1 From east to west,
the powerful Lord God
has been calling together
everyone on earth.
2 God shines brightly from Zion,
the most beautiful city.
3 Our God approaches,
but not silently;
a flaming fire comes first,
and a storm surrounds him.
4 God comes to judge his people.
He shouts to the heavens
and to the earth,
5 “Call my followers together!
They offered me a sacrifice,
and we made
an agreement.”
6 The heavens announce,
“God is the judge,
and he is always honest.”
7 My people, I am God!
Israel, I am your God.
Listen to my charges
against you.
8 Although you offer sacrifices
and always bring gifts,
9 I won’t accept your offerings
of bulls and goats.
10 Every animal in the forest
belongs to me,
and so do the cattle
on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds
in the mountains,
and every wild creature
is in my
care.
12 If I were hungry,
I wouldn’t
tell you,
because I own the world
and everything
in it.
13 I don’t eat the meat of bulls
or drink
the blood of goats.
14 I am God Most High!
The only
sacrifice I want
is for you to be thankful
and to keep
your word.
15 Pray to me in time of trouble.
I will rescue you,
and you
will honor me.
16 But to the wicked I say:
“You
don’t have the right
to mention my laws or claim
to keep
our agreement!
17 You refused correction
and rejected
my commands.
18 You made friends
with every
crook you met,
and you liked people who break
their wedding
vows.
19 You talked only about violence
and told
nothing but lies;
20 you sat around gossiping,
ruining the reputation
of your
own relatives.”
21 When you did all of this,
I didn’t say a word,
and you
thought,
“God is just like us!”
But now
I will accuse you.
22 You have ignored me!
So pay close
attention
or I will tear you apart,
and no one
can help you.
23 The sacrifice that honors me
is a thankful
heart.
Obey me, and I, your God,
will show
my power to save.
The Contemporary English Version c1995 by the American Bible Society.
Selected texts provided for use with the Amos: Hypertext Bible Commentary