Psalms 81

1 “To the chief musician upon Gittith; by Assaph.” Sing aloud unto God our strength: shout joyfully unto the God of Jacob.

Sing aloud to God our strength. Make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.

2 Lift up psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

Raise a song, and bring here the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

3 Blow on the new moon the cornet, at the time appointed, on the day of our feast.

Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast-day.

4 For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance by the God of Jacob.

For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

5 As a testimony in Joseph did he ordain it, when he went out over the land of Egypt. The language of one I had not known did I hear.

He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard a language that I knew not.

6 I removed from the burden his shoulder: his hands left behind the burden-basket.

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

7 In distress thou didst call, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret of the thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

Thou called 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 give warning unto thee; O Israel, if thou wouldst but hearken unto me!

Hear, O my people, and I will testify to thee, O Israel, if thou would hearken to me!

9 There shall not be among thee a foreign God; nor shalt thou bow thyself down to any strange God.

There shall no strange god be in thee, nor shall thou worship any foreign god.

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

I am Jehovah 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 did not hearken to my voice; and Israel was not willing [to follow] me.

But my people hearkened not to my voice, and Israel would none of me.

12 So I let them go in the stubbornness of their own hearts: 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 would hearken unto me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

O that my people would hearken to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

14 In a little while would I subdue their enemies, and against their adversaries would I turn my hand.

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

15 The haters of the Lord should offer flattery unto him; but their time should endure for ever.

(The haters of Jehovah feign obedience to him, but their time is forever.)

16 And he would feed him with the best of wheat: and out of the rock would I satisfy thee with honey.

He would feed them also with the finest of the wheat. And I would satisfy thee with honey out of the rock.