Psalm 50—The world is mine and everything in it.

"Those who would follow me must walk Though they do not know the way."

Rendition of Psalm 50

Almighty God has spoken
And called forth the sun
To its rainbow arc from east to west,
But fire-bright atop mount Zion,
God shines the more. 

Lord, come. Do not keep silent.
With you walks a holy fire
That eats what it touches
And leaves what is good.
Around you whirls a storm
Like I have never seen.
Do not delay to judge the land.
Call the heavens and the earth to witness.
Where there is evil, burn it cinder black
And scour it storm clean.
Gather your people together
Who have bound themselves to you.
May the heavens declare your goodness,
My God and my judge.

Hear, my people, for I am your God
And I am the one who witnesses against you.
“Your sacrifices are not what I want from you.
I would not take a bull from your house,
Nor a goat from your field,
For every animal of the forest is mine
And I own the cattle on a thousand hills.
I have called each bird by name
And everything that moves 
And has breath is already with me.
If I were hungry, I would not tell you.
The world is mine and everything in it.
Do I eat the flesh of bulls
Or drink the blood of goats?
No. But offer God your thanks and praise
And keep your promises to him!
Call upon him when trouble finds you
And he will come.”

But to the wicked I say,
“What right do you have to quote my words?
And to rewrite my promises with your lips?
I have brought you many opportunities to change
But you hate my discipline
And throw my words behind you.
Your eyes roam about for evil
And you gather it to yourself in heaps.
You rush toward robbery
And bind yourself to adulterers.
Darkness rushes from your mouth in a torrent.
You strike your own family with your words.
Your tongue weaves a tapestry of lies.
And as I kept silent
You came to believe I was just like you,
But that ends now. 
I lay my case before you. 
I am witness and judge.
Consider this, you who forget God:
What can save you 
When I am the one 
Who rends you apart?

But those who would offer their lives 
As sacrifices, must also burn. 
Those who would follow me must walk
Though they do not know the way.
And all who do will see
The salvation of God.

---

Psalms: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 46, 50, 51, 53, 54, 62, 63, 65, 66, 73, 74, 75, 84, 86, 88, 90, 91, 100, 107, 110, 114, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 137, 139, 140, 142, 147, 148.

Request the Darkling Psalter in Print

If you would like to move this project one step closer to publication, sign up on this form to request the Darkling Psalter in print.