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.

[For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. By Asaph.] Sing aloud to God, our strength. Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.

2 Take up the melody, playing on an instrument of music, even on corded instruments.

Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.

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

Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.

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

For it is a statute for 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 appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I did not know.

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

"I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed 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)

You called in trouble, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at 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, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me.

9 There is to be no strange god among you; you are not to give worship to any other god.

There shall be no strange god in you, neither shall you worship any foreign 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 YHWH, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will 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. Israel desired none of me.

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

So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own counsels.

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

Oh that my people would listen to me, that 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.

I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries.

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

The haters of YHWH would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.

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

And he would have fed him with the finest wheat, and satisfied you with honey from the rock."