Psalms 81

1 To the chief music-maker; put to the Gittith. Of Asaph. Make a song to God our strength: make a glad cry 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 Take up the melody, playing on an instrument of music, even on corded instruments.

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

3 Let the horn be sounded in the time of the new moon, at the full moon, on our holy feast-day:

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

4 For this is a rule for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

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

5 He gave it to Joseph as a witness, when he went out over the land of Egypt; then the words of a strange tongue were sounding in my ears.

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 took the weight from his back; his hands were made free from the baskets.

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

7 You gave a cry in your trouble, and I made you free; I gave you an answer in the secret place of the thunder; I put you to the test at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

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 Give ear, O my people, and I will give you my word, O Israel, if you will only do as I say!

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

9 There is to be no strange god among you; you are not to give worship to any other 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 took you up from the land of Egypt: let your mouth be open wide, so that I may give you food.

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 did not give ear to my voice; Israel would have nothing to do with me.

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

12 So I gave them up to the desires of their hearts; that they might go after their evil purposes.

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

13 If only my people would give ear to me, walking in my ways!

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

14 I would quickly overcome their haters: my hand would be turned against those who make war on them.

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

15 The haters of the Lord would be broken, and their destruction would be eternal.

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

16 I would give them the best grain for food; you would be full of honey from the rock.

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