Psalms 81

1 Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for Asaph himself. Rejoice to God our helper: sing aloud to the God of Jacob.

For the music director. On the gittith. A psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel: the pleasant psaltery with the harp.

Start the song! Play the tambourine, sweet-sounding lyre, and harp.

3 Blow up the trumpet on the new moon, on the noted day of your solemnity.

Blow the trumpet at the new moon, and at full moon, to begin our festivals,

4 For it is a commandment in Israel, and a judgment to the God of Jacob.

for this is a rule for Israel, a regulation of the God of Jacob.

5 He ordained it for a testimony in Joseph, when he came out of the land of Egypt: he heard a tongue which he knew not.

God made this statute for Joseph when he opposed the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I didn't know, saying:

6 He removed his back from the burdens: his hands had served in baskets.

“I took the load from your shoulders; I freed your hands from carrying heavy baskets.

7 Thou calledst upon me in affliction, and I delivered thee: I heard thee in the secret place of tempest: I proved thee at the waters of contradiction.

In your suffering you cried out to me, and I saved you. I answered you from the thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify to thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken to me,

My people, listen to my warnings! Israel, please listen to me!

9 There shall be no new god in thee: neither shalt thou adore a strange god.

There must not be a strange god among you; you must never bow down to foreign gods and worship them.

10 For I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

11 But my people heard not my voice: and Israel hearkened not to me.

But my people didn't listen to me. Israel didn't want anything to do with me.

12 So I let them go according to the desires of their heart: they shall walk in their own inventions.

So I sent them away to follow their stubborn thinking, living as they chose.

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

If only my people would listen to me; if only Israel would follow my ways!

14 I should soon have humbled their enemies, and laid my hand on them that troubled them.

It wouldn't take me long to conquer their enemies, to strike down their foes.

15 The enemies of the Lord have lied to him: and their time shall be for ever.

Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, forever doomed.

16 And he fed them with the fat of wheat, and filled them with honey out of the rock.

But I would feed you the best wheat and satisfy you with honey from the rock.”