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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

For this is a rule 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.

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.

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

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

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 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)

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

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

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

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

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

But my people did not give ear to my voice; Israel would have nothing 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 gave them up to the desires of their hearts; that they might go after their evil purposes.

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

If only my people would give ear to me, walking 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 would quickly overcome their haters: my hand would be turned against those who make war on them.

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

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

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

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