Psalms 81

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

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud 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.

Take a psalm, and strike the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

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

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

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

For this was a statute 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.

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.

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 delivered from the pots.

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)

Thou didst call in trouble, and I delivered 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 you: O Israel, if you will hearken unto me;

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

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

There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any 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 the LORD thy God, who brought thee 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 refused me.

But my people would not hearken to my voice; 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 own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

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

O that my people had hearkened to me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

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

I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned 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 have submitted themselves to him: and their time should have endured 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 you.

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