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.

Unto the end. For the wine and oil presses. A Psalm of Asaph himself. Exult before God our helper. Sing joyfully to the God of Jacob.

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

Take up a psalm, and bring forth the timbrel: a pleasing Psalter with stringed instruments.

3 Blow the horn at the new moon, at the full moon for our feast-day.

Sound the trumpet at the new moon, on the noteworthy day of your solemnity,

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

for it is a precept in Israel and a judgment for 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 set it as a testimony with Joseph, when he went out of the land of Egypt. He heard a tongue that he did not know.

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

He turned the burdens away from his back. His hands had been a slave to baskets.

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 upon me in tribulation, and I freed you. I heard you within the hidden tempest. I tested you with waters of contradiction.

8 Hear, O My people, and I will admonish thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto Me!

My people, listen and I will call you to testify. If, O Israel, you will pay heed to me,

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

then there will be no new god among you, nor will you adore 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.

For I am the Lord your God, who led you out of the land of Egypt. Widen 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 did not hear my voice, and Israel was not attentive to me.

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

And so, I sent them away, according to the desires of their heart. They will go forth according to their own inventions.

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

If my people had heard me, if Israel had walked in my ways,

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

I would have humbled their enemies, as if it were nothing, and I would have sent my hand upon those who troubled them.

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

The enemies of the Lord have lied to him, and their time will come, in every age.

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

And he fed them from the fat of the grain, and he saturated them with honey from the rock.