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 Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. By Asaph. Sing aloud to God, our strength! Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob!

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

Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.

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

Blow the shofar at the New Moon, at the full moon, on 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 covenant, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn’t know.

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)

You called in trouble, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you 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, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me!

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

There shall be no strange god in you, neither shall you 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, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your 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 didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired 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 hearts, 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 listen to 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 would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.

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

But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat. I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”