Hear, O My People, I Will Speak

1 Hear, O My people, I will speak,
against thee I will testify;
give ear to Me, O Israel,
for God, thy cov'nant God, am I;
I do not spurn thy sacrifice,
thy off'rings are before My eyes.

2 I will receive from out thy fold
no off'ring for My holy shrine;
the cattle on a thousand hills
and all the forest beasts are Mine;
each mountain bird to Me is known,
whatever roams the field I own.

3 Behold, if I should hungry grow,
I would not tell My need to thee,
for all the world itself is Mine.
And all its wealth belongs to Me;
why should I aught of thee receive,
My thirst or hunger to relieve?

4 Bring thou to God the gift of thanks,
and pay thy vows to God Most High;
call ye upon My holy Name
in days when sore distress in nigh;
deliv'rance I will send to thee,
and praises thou shalt give to Me.

5 Thus speaks the Lord to wicked men:
My statutes why do ye declare?
Why take My covenant in your mouth,
since ye for wisdom do not care?
For ye My holy words profane
and cast them from you in disdain.

6 Ye have consented with the thief,
ye have partaken with the vile,
your mouths to evil words ye give
your tongue proclaim deceit and guile,
ye glory in your brother's shame,
your mother's son do ye defame.

7 Thus have ye done; I silence kept,
and this has been your secret thought,
that I was wholly as yourselves,
to take your evil deeds as nought;
I will reprove you and array
your deeds before your eyes this day.

8 Consider this, who God forget,
lest I destroy with none to free;
who offers sacrifice of thanks,
he glorifies and honors Me;
to him who orders well his way
salvation free I will display.

Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #50B