Psalms 81

1 For the Leader; upon the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength; shout unto the God of Jacob.

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 up the melody, and sound the timbrel, the sweet harp with the psaltery.

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

3 Blow the horn at the new moon, at the full moon for 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 it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

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

5 He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when He went forth against the land of Egypt. The speech of one that I knew not did I hear:

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 removed his shoulder from the burden; His hands were freed from the basket.

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

7 Thou didst call in trouble, and I rescued thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved 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 Hear, O My people, and I will admonish thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto Me!

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

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

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

10 I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee up 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 hearkened not to My voice; and Israel would none of Me.

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

12 So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, that they might walk in their own counsels.

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

13 Oh that My people would hearken unto Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!

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

14 I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries.

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

15 The haters of the LORD should dwindle away before Him; and their punishment should endure for ever.

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

16 They should also be fed with the fat of wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee.'

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