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 music director. On the gittith. A psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

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

Start the song! Play the tambourine, sweet-sounding lyre, and harp.

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

Blow the trumpet at the new moon, and at full moon, to begin our festivals,

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

for this is a rule for Israel, a regulation 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:

God made this statute for Joseph when he opposed the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I didn't know, saying:

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

“I took the load from your shoulders; I freed your hands from carrying heavy 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)

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)

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

My people, listen to my warnings! Israel, please listen to me!

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

There must not be a strange god among you; you must never bow down to foreign gods and worship them.

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 out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

11 But My people hearkened not to My voice; and Israel would none of Me.

But my people didn't listen to me. Israel didn't want anything to do with me.

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

So I sent them away to follow their stubborn thinking, living as they chose.

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 only Israel would follow my ways!

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

It wouldn't take me long to conquer their enemies, to strike down 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 cringe before him, forever doomed.

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 best wheat and satisfy you with honey from the rock.”