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 chief musician; set to the Gittith style. A psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; shout out for joy to the God of Jacob.

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

Sing a song and play the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.

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

Blow the trumpet on the day of the new moon, on the day of the full moon, when our feast day begins.

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

For it is a statute for Israel, a decree given 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:

He issued it as a regulation in Joseph when he went against the land of Egypt, where I heard a voice that I did not recognize:

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

“I removed the burden from his shoulder; his hands were freed from holding 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)

In your distress you called out, and I helped you; I answered you from a dark 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!

Listen, my people, for I will warn you, Israel, if you would only listen to me!

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

There must be no foreign god among you; you must not worship any 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 Yahweh 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 did not listen to my words; Israel did not obey 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 over to their own stubborn way so that they might do what seemed right to them.

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

Oh, that my people would listen to me; oh, that my people would walk in my paths.

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

Then I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their oppressors.

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

May those who hate Yahweh cringe in fear before him! May they be humiliated forever.

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

I would feed Israel with the finest wheat; I would satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”