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.

SING aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

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

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

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

Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

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

For this was a statute for Israel, and a law 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.

This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.

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

I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

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.

Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee 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,

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

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

There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

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 thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

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

But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

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

So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

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

Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

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

I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

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

The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.

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

He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.