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 Overseer. — 'On the Gittith.' By Asaph. Cry aloud to God our strength, Shout to the God of Jacob.

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

Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, A pleasant harp with psaltery.

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

Blow in the month a trumpet, In the new moon, at the day of our festival,

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

For a statute to Israel it [is], 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.

A testimony on Joseph He hath placed it, In his going forth over the land of Egypt. A lip, I have not known — I hear.

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

From the burden his shoulder I turned aside, His hands from the basket pass over.

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)

In distress thou hast called and I deliver thee, I answer thee in the secret place of thunder, I try thee by 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 testify to thee, O Israel, if thou dost hearken to me:

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

There is not in thee a strange god, And thou bowest not thyself to a strange 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] Jehovah thy God, Who bringeth thee up out of the land of Egypt. Enlarge thy mouth, and I 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 hath not consented to Me.

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

And I send them away in the enmity of their heart, They walk in their own counsels.

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

O that My people were hearkening to Me, Israel in My ways would walk.

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

As a little thing their enemies I cause to bow, And against their adversaries I turn back My hand,

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

Those hating Jehovah feign obedience to Him, But their time is — to the age.

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

He causeth him to eat of the fat of wheat, And [with] honey from a rock I satisfy thee!