Psalms 81

1 For the end, a Psalm for Asaph, concerning the wine-presses. Rejoice ye in God our helper; shout aloud to the God of Jacob.

For the music director. On the gittith. A psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

2 Take a psalm, and produce the timbrel, the pleasant psaltery with the harp.

Start the song! Play the tambourine, sweet-sounding lyre, and harp.

3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, in the glorious day of your feast.

Blow the trumpet at the new moon, and at full moon, to begin our festivals,

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

for this is a rule for Israel, a regulation of the God of Jacob.

5 He made it [to be] a testimony in Joseph, when he came forth out of the land of Egypt: he heard a language which he understood not.

God made this statute for Joseph when he opposed the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I didn't know, saying:

6 He removed his back from burdens: his hands slaved in making the baskets.

“I took the load from your shoulders; I freed your hands from carrying heavy baskets.

7 Thou didst call upon me in trouble, and I delivered thee; I heard thee in the secret place of the storm: I proved thee at the water of Strife. (Pause)

In your suffering you cried out to me, and I saved you. I answered you from the thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

8 Hear, my people, and I will speak to thee, O Israel; and I will testify to thee: if thou wilt hearken to me;

My people, listen to my warnings! Israel, please listen to me!

9 there shall be no new god in thee; neither shalt thou worship a strange god.

There must not be a strange god among you; you must never bow down to foreign gods and worship them.

10 For I am the Lord thy God, that brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

11 But my people hearkened not to my voice; and Israel gave no heed to me.

But my people didn't listen to me. Israel didn't want anything to do with me.

12 So I let them go after the ways of their own hearts: they will go on in their own ways.

So I sent them away to follow their stubborn thinking, living as they chose.

13 If my people had hearkened to me, if Israel had walked in my ways,

If only my people would listen to me; if only Israel would follow my ways!

14 I should have put down their enemies very quickly, and should have laid my hand upon those that afflicted them.

It wouldn't take me long to conquer their enemies, to strike down their foes.

15 The Lord's enemies [should have] lied to him: but their time shall be for ever.

Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, forever doomed.

16 And he fed them with the fat of wheat; and satisfied them with honey out of the rock.

But I would feed you the best wheat and satisfy you with honey from the rock.”