Psalms 81
1 Sing aloud to God our strength: make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.
To the Overseer. — 'On the Gittith.' By Asaph. Cry aloud to God our strength, Shout to the God of Jacob.
2 Take a psalm, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, A pleasant harp with psaltery.
3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
Blow in the month a trumpet, In the new moon, at the day of our festival,
4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
For a statute to Israel it [is], An ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5 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.
A testimony on Joseph He hath placed it, In his going forth over the land of Egypt. A lip, I have not known — I hear.
6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
From the burden his shoulder I turned aside, His hands from the basket pass over.
7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder: I proved you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)
In distress thou hast called and I deliver thee, I answer thee in the secret place of thunder, I try thee by the waters of Meribah. (Selah)
8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify to you: O Israel, if you will listen to me;
Hear, O My people, and I testify to thee, O Israel, if thou dost hearken to me:
9 There shall no strange god be in you; neither shall you worship any strange god.
There is not in thee a strange god, And thou bowest not thyself to a strange god.
10 I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt: open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
I [am] Jehovah thy God, Who bringeth thee up out of the land of Egypt. Enlarge thy mouth, and I fill it.
11 But my people would not listen to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
But, My people hearkened not to My voice, And Israel hath not consented to Me.
12 So I gave them up to their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
And I send them away in the enmity of their heart, They walk in their own counsels.
13 Oh that my people had listened to me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
O that My people were hearkening to Me, Israel in My ways would walk.
14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
As a little thing their enemies I cause to bow, And against their adversaries I turn back My hand,
15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves to him: but their time should have endured for ever.
Those hating Jehovah feign obedience to Him, But their time is — to the age.
16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied you.
He causeth him to eat of the fat of wheat, And [with] honey from a rock I satisfy thee!
