Psalms 81

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

For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.

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

Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.

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

Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.

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

For this 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 ordained it as a testimony for Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard an unfamiliar language:

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

“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.

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)

You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

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

Hear, O My people, and I will warn you: O Israel, if only you would listen to Me!

9 There shall no strange god be in you; neither shall you worship any strange god.

There must be no strange god among you, nor shall you bow to a foreign 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 the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.

11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel refused me.

But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

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

So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

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

If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,

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

how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!

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

Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.

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.

But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”