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.

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength: make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.

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

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

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

Blow the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

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

For this was a statute for Israel, and a law 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.

This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.

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

I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

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)

Thou didst call in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee 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;

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

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

There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

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 thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy 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 would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would not obey me.

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

So I gave them up to their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

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

O that my people had hearkened to me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

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

I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

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

The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves to him: and their time should have endured for ever.

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

He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock I should have satisfied thee.