Psalms 81

1 SING aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

For the Leader; upon the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength; shout unto the God of Jacob.

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

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

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

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

4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

For it is a statute for Israel, 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.

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:

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

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

7 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)

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)

8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;

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

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

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

10 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

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.

11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

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

12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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