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 Leader; upon the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength; shout unto the God of Jacob.

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

Take up the melody, and sound the timbrel, the sweet harp with the psaltery.

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

Blow the horn at the new moon, at the full moon for our feast-day.

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

For it 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 appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when He went forth against the land of Egypt. The speech of one that I knew not did I hear:

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

'I removed his shoulder from 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)

Thou didst call in trouble, and I rescued 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 you, O Israel; and I will testify to you: if you will listen to me;

Hear, O My people, and I will admonish thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto Me!

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

There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any 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 thy God, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt; open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

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

But My people hearkened not to My voice; and Israel would none of Me.

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

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

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

Oh that My people would hearken unto Me, that Israel would walk 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 soon subdue their enemies, and turn 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 dwindle away before Him; and their punishment should endure for ever.

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

They should also be fed with the fat of wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee.'