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 chief musician; set to the Gittith style. A psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; shout out for joy to the God of Jacob.

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

Sing a song and play the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.

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

Blow the trumpet on the day of the new moon, on the day of the full moon, when our feast day begins.

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

For it is a statute for Israel, a decree given by 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 issued it as a regulation in Joseph when he went against the land of Egypt, where I heard a voice that I did not recognize:

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

“I removed the burden from his shoulder; his hands were freed from holding 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)

In your distress you called out, and I helped you; I answered you from a dark thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

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

Listen, my people, for I will warn you, Israel, if you would only listen to me!

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

There must be no foreign god among you; you must not worship any 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 Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

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

But my people did not listen to my words; Israel did 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 over to their own stubborn way so that they might do what seemed right to them.

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

Oh, that my people would listen to me; oh, that my people would walk in my paths.

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

Then I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their oppressors.

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

May those who hate Yahweh cringe in fear before him! May they be humiliated 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.

I would feed Israel with the finest wheat; I would satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”