Psalms 81
1 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.
To the Overseer. — 'On the Gittith.' By Asaph. Cry aloud to God our strength, Shout to the God of Jacob.
2 Start the song! Play the tambourine, sweet-sounding lyre, and harp.
Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, A pleasant harp with psaltery.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, and at full moon, to begin our festivals,
Blow in the month a trumpet, In the new moon, at the day of our festival,
4 for this is a rule for Israel, a regulation of the God of Jacob.
For a statute to Israel it [is], An ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5 God made this statute for Joseph when he opposed the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I didn't know, saying:
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 “I took the load from your shoulders; I freed your hands from carrying heavy baskets.
From the burden his shoulder I turned aside, His hands from the basket pass over.
7 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)
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 My people, listen to my warnings! Israel, please listen to me!
Hear, O My people, and I testify to thee, O Israel, if thou dost hearken to me:
9 There must not be a strange god among you; you must never bow down to foreign gods and worship them.
There is not in thee a strange god, And thou bowest not thyself to a strange god.
10 I am the Lord your God who 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 didn't listen to me. Israel didn't want anything to do with me.
But, My people hearkened not to My voice, And Israel hath not consented to Me.
12 So I sent them away to follow their stubborn thinking, living as they chose.
And I send them away in the enmity of their heart, They walk in their own counsels.
13 If only my people would listen to me; if only Israel would follow my ways!
O that My people were hearkening to Me, Israel in My ways would walk.
14 It wouldn't take me long to conquer their enemies, to strike down their foes.
As a little thing their enemies I cause to bow, And against their adversaries I turn back My hand,
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, forever doomed.
Those hating Jehovah feign obedience to Him, But their time is — to the age.
16 But I would feed you the best wheat and satisfy you with honey from the rock.”
He causeth him to eat of the fat of wheat, And [with] honey from a rock I satisfy thee!
