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 leader. On the gittith. 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.

Raise a song, sound the timbrel, sweet lyre and harp.

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

On the new moon blow the horn, at the full moon, the day of our festival.

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

For this is a statute for Israel, a ruling 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:

a witness he set up in Joseph, when he marched against Egypt’s land, where he heard an unknown voice say:

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

“I removed from your shoulder the burden, and freed your hands 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)

At your call of distress I delivered you, from the thundercloud I answered you. At Meribah’s waters I tested you. (Selah)

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

“Listen, my people, to my warning, O Israel, if you would but listen!

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 bow to no 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 your mouth, that I fill it.

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

“But my people did not listen to my voice, Israel would have none of me.

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

So to their own hard hearts I left them, to follow their own devices.

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

O that my people would listen, that Israel would walk in my ways.

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

Soon would I humble their enemies, and turn my hand on 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 in everlasting terror.

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

But you would I feed with the richest wheat, and with honey from the rock to your heart’s desire.”