1 The Lord, the most mighty God, has spoken ♦
and called the world from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth; ♦
our God comes and will not keep silence.
3 Consuming fire goes out before him ♦
and a mighty tempest stirs about him.
4 He calls the heaven above, ♦
and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 ‘Gather to me my faithful, ♦
who have sealed my covenant with sacrifice.’
6 Let the heavens declare his righteousness, ♦
for God himself is judge.
7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak: ♦
‘I will testify against you, O Israel;
for I am God, your God.
8 ‘I will not reprove you for your sacrifices, ♦
for your burnt offerings are always before me.
9 ‘I will take no bull out of your house, ♦
nor he-goat out of your folds,
10 ‘For all the beasts of the forest are mine, ♦
the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11 ‘I know every bird of the mountains ♦
and the insect of the field is mine.
12 ‘If I were hungry, I would not tell you, ♦
for the whole world is mine and all that fills it.
13 ‘Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls, ♦
or drink the blood of goats?
14 ‘Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving ♦
and fulfil your vows to God Most High.
15 ‘Call upon me in the day of trouble; ♦
I will deliver you and you shall honour me.’
16 But to the wicked, says God: ♦
‘Why do you recite my statutes
and take my covenant upon your lips,
17 ‘Since you refuse to be disciplined ♦
and have cast my words behind you?
18 ‘When you saw a thief, you made friends with him ♦
and you threw in your lot with adulterers.
19 ‘You have loosed your lips for evil ♦
and harnessed your tongue to deceit.
20 ‘You sit and speak evil of your brother; ♦
you slander your own mother’s son.
21 ‘These things have you done, and should I keep silence? ♦
Did you think that I am even such a one as yourself?
22 ‘But no, I must reprove you, ♦
and set before your eyes the things that you have done.
23 ‘You that forget God, consider this well, ♦
lest I tear you apart and there is none to deliver you.
24 ‘Whoever offers me the sacrifice of thanksgiving honours me ♦
and to those who keep my way
will I show the salvation of God.’
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.