Psalm 50:4
ESV
He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
NIV
He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:
NASB
He summons the heavens above, And the earth, to judge His people:
CSB
On high, he summons heaven and earth in order to judge his people:
NLT
He calls on the heavens above and earth below to witness the judgment of his people.
KJV
He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
NKJV
He shall call to the heavens from above, And to the earth, that He may judge His people:
What does Psalm 50:4 mean?
Asaph began this psalm by depicting God's unimaginable power and glory (Psalm 50:1–3). He describes the Lord arriving to pronounce judgment. Here, God once again speaks to all creation as He delivers a verdict. This sentence applies to God's chosen people, the nation of Israel (Exodus 6:7).By God's word heaven and earth were formed (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3). The entire universe is His to command. When Moses assembled Israel, he began a song with the words, "Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth" (Deuteronomy 32:1). Similarly, Isaiah began his indictment of wayward Israel with the words. "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lᴏʀᴅ has spoken" (Isaiah 1:2). Micah's message to Judah begins: "Hear, you people, all of you; pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it, and let the Lord Gᴏʀᴅ be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple" (Micah 1:2).
