Psalms 81

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance 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.

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

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

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

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

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.

8 Hear, my people, and I will speak to you, O Israel; and I will testify to you: if you will listen to me;

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

9 there shall be no new god in you; neither shall you worship a strange god.

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

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

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

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

But My people would not listen to Me, 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 stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

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

If only My people would listen to Me, if 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.

how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against 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 feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.

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