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; by Assaph.” Sing aloud unto God our strength: shout joyfully unto the God of Jacob.

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

Lift up 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 on the new moon the cornet, at the time appointed, 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 by 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:

As a testimony in Joseph did he ordain it, when he went out over the land of Egypt. The language of one I had not known did I hear.

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

I removed from the burden his shoulder: his hands left behind the burden-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)

In distress thou didst call, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret of the 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 give warning unto thee; O Israel, if thou wouldst but hearken unto me!

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

There shall not be among thee a foreign God; nor shalt thou bow thyself down to 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, who have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt: open wide thy 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 hearken to my voice; and Israel was not willing [to follow] me.

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

So I let them go in the stubbornness of their own hearts: 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 would hearken unto me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

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

In a little while would I subdue their enemies, and against their adversaries would I turn my hand.

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

The haters of the Lord should offer flattery unto him; but their time should endure for ever.

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

And he would feed him with the best of wheat: and out of the rock would I satisfy thee with honey.