El-God-Yahweh has spoken
and has summoned the earth from the rising of the sun unto its setting.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines forth.
Our God comes and does not maintain silence,
before him is a fire that consumes,
and round about him a great storm rages.
God calls to the heavens above
and to the earth that he may judge God's people:
"Gather to me, my loyal ones,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!"
The heavens declare God's faithfulness to his relationships,
for it is God indeed who is judge. Selah
Here ends the psalm segment for Transfiguration,
Series B.
Here begins the psalm segment for the 3rd Sunday
after Pentecost, Series A
"Hear, my people, and I will speak,
Israel, I will bear testimony against you.
I am God, your God.
I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices;
your burnt offerings are constantly before me.
I will not accept a bull from your household,
or goats from your pens.
For all wild animals of the forest are mine,
also the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the mountains,
and the creatures of the field are mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and its fullness belongs to me.
Do I eat the flesh of bulls,
or drink the blood of goats?
Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and pay off your vows to the Most High.
Pray to me in the day of trouble,
I will deliver you and you will honor me."
Here ends the psalm segment for the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Series A
But to the wicked God says:
"What makes you think you can recount my statutes,
or lift up my covenant on your mouth?
You hate discipline;
you throw my words behind you.
If you see a thief you accept him favorably,
and your lot is with adulterers.
You give your mouth free rein for evil,
and your tongue fits together deceit.
You sit and speak against your sisters and brothers;
you slander your mother's own child.
These things you have done,
and I will not maintain silence.
You thought that I was a person just like yourself.
But in fact I rebuke you,
and list all my charges with you as witness.
Consider this, you who forget God,
lest I tear you limb from limb,
and there be no one to deliver you.
Those who bring sacrifices of thanksgiving honor me;
I will show God's salvation to those who stick by my path."
©2002 Ralph W. Klein