Psalms 81

1 To him that excelleth upon Gittith. A Psalme committed to Asaph. Sing ioyfully vnto God our strength: sing loude vnto the God of Iaakob.

For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.

2 Take the song and bring forth the timbrel, the pleasant harpe with the viole.

Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.

3 Blowe the trumpet in the newe moone, euen in the time appointed, at our feast day.

Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.

4 For this is a statute for Israel, and a Law of the God of Iaakob.

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

5 Hee set this in Ioseph for a testimonie, when hee came out of the land of Egypt, where I heard a language, that I vnderstoode not.

He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard an unfamiliar language:

6 I haue withdrawen his shoulder from the burden, and his handes haue left the pots.

“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.

7 Thou calledst in affliction and I deliuered thee, and answered thee in the secret of the thunder: I prooued thee at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

8 Heare, O my people, and I wil protest vnto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken vnto me,

Hear, O My people, and I will warn you: O Israel, if only you would listen to Me!

9 Let there bee no strange god in thee, neither worship thou any strange god.

There must be no strange god among you, nor shall you bow to a foreign god.

10 For I am the Lord thy God, which 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 up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.

11 But my people would not heare my voyce, and Israel would none of me.

But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

12 So I gaue them vp vnto the hardnesse of their heart, and they haue walked in their owne cousels.

So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

13 Oh that my people had hearkened vnto me, and Israel had walked in my wayes.

If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,

14 I would soone haue humbled their enemies, and turned mine hand against their aduersaries.

how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!

15 The haters of the Lord should haue bene subiect vnto him, and their time should haue endured for euer.

Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.

16 And God would haue fedde them with the fatte of wheat, and with honie out of the rocke would I haue sufficed thee.

But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”