Psalms 81

1 Unto the end. For the wine and oil presses. A Psalm of Asaph himself. Exult before God our helper. Sing joyfully to the God of Jacob.

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

2 Take up a psalm, and bring forth the timbrel: a pleasing Psalter with stringed instruments.

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

3 Sound the trumpet at the new moon, on the noteworthy day of your solemnity,

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

4 for it is a precept in Israel and a judgment for the God of Jacob.

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

5 He set it as a testimony with Joseph, when he went out of the land of Egypt. He heard a tongue that he did not know.

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.

6 He turned the burdens away from his back. His hands had been a slave to baskets.

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

7 You called upon me in tribulation, and I freed you. I heard you within the hidden tempest. I tested you with waters of contradiction.

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)

8 My people, listen and I will call you to testify. If, O Israel, you will pay heed to me,

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

9 then there will be no new god among you, nor will you adore a foreign god.

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

10 For I am the Lord your God, who led you out of the land of Egypt. Widen your mouth, and I will fill it.

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.

11 But my people did not hear my voice, and Israel was not attentive to me.

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

12 And so, I sent them away, according to the desires of their heart. They will go forth according to their own inventions.

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

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

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

14 I would have humbled their enemies, as if it were nothing, and I would have sent my hand upon those who troubled them.

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

15 The enemies of the Lord have lied to him, and their time will come, in every age.

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

16 And he fed them from the fat of the grain, and he saturated them with honey from the rock.

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