Psalms 81

1 For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.

TO THE OVERSEER. ON THE GITTITH. BY ASAPH. Cry aloud to God our strength, Shout to the God of Jacob.

2 Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.

Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, A pleasant harp with stringed instrument.

3 Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.

Blow a horn in the month, In the new moon, at the day of our festival,

4 For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

For it [is] a statute to Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob.

5 He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard an unfamiliar language:

He has placed it—a testimony on Joseph, In his going forth over the land of Egypt. A lip, I have not known—I hear.

6 “I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.

I turned aside his shoulder from the burden, His hands pass over from the basket.

7 You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

In distress you have called and I deliver you, I answer you in the secret place of thunder, I try you by the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

8 Hear, O My people, and I will warn you: O Israel, if only you would listen to Me!

Hear, O My people, and I testify to you, O Israel, if you listen to me:

9 There must be no strange god among you, nor shall you bow to a foreign god.

There is not in you a strange god, And you do not bow yourself to a strange god.

10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.

I [am] your God YHWH, Who brings you up out of the land of Egypt. Enlarge your mouth, and I fill it.

11 But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel has not consented to Me.

12 So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

And I send them away in the enmity of their heart, They walk in their own counsels.

13 If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,

O that My people were listening to Me, Israel would walk in My ways.

14 how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!

As a little thing I cause their enemies to bow, And I turn back My hand against their adversaries,

15 Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.

Those hating YHWH should have feigned [obedience] to Him, And their time would last for all time.

16 But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

He causes him to eat of the fat of wheat, And I satisfy you [with] honey from a rock!