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.

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, [A Psalm] of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

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

Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

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

Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

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

For this [was] a statute for Israel, [and] a law 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:

This he ordained in Joseph [for] a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: [where] I heard a language [that] I understood not.

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

I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

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)

Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

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 testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;

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

There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange 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 thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy 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 would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of 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 unto their own hearts’ lust: [and] they walked in their own counsels.

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

Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, [and] Israel had walked in my ways!

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

I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

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

The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.

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

He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.