Psalms 81

1 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, [A Psalm] of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto 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 hither the timbrel, 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 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)

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 unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto 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 thee; neither shalt thou 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 thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy 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 hearken 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 unto 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 hearkened unto 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 unto 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 thee.

He causeth him to eat of the fat of wheat, And [with] honey from a rock I satisfy thee!