Psalms 81

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

To the chief music-maker; put to the Gittith. Of Asaph. Make a song to God our strength: make a glad cry to the God of Jacob.

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

Take up the melody, playing on an instrument of music, even on corded instruments.

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

Let the horn be sounded in the time of the new moon, at the full moon, on our holy feast-day:

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

For this is a rule for Israel, and a law 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 gave it to Joseph as a witness, when he went out over the land of Egypt; then the words of a strange tongue were sounding in my ears.

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

I took the weight from his back; his hands were made free from the baskets.

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 gave a cry in your trouble, and I made you free; I gave you an answer in the secret place of the thunder; I put you to the test at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

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

Give ear, O my people, and I will give you my word, O Israel, if you will only do as I say!

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

There is to be no strange god among you; you are not to give worship to any other 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 took you up from the land of Egypt: let your mouth be open wide, so that I may give you food.

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

But my people did not give ear to my voice; Israel would have nothing to do with 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 the desires of their hearts; that they might go after their evil purposes.

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

If only my people would give ear to me, walking in my ways!

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

I would quickly overcome their haters: my hand would be turned against those who make war on them.

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 would be broken, and their destruction would be eternal.

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.

I would give them the best grain for food; you would be full of honey from the rock.