Psalms 81

1 TO THE OVERSEER. ON THE GITTITH. BY ASAPH. Cry aloud to God our strength, Shout to 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 Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, A pleasant harp with stringed instrument.

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

3 Blow a horn in the month, In the new moon, at the day of our festival,

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

4 For it [is] a statute to Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob.

For this is a rule for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

5 He has placed it—a testimony on Joseph, In his going forth over the land of Egypt. A lip, I have not known—I hear.

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 turned aside his shoulder from the burden, His hands pass over from the basket.

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

7 In distress you have called and I deliver you, I answer you in the secret place of thunder, I try you by 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 testify to you, O Israel, if you listen to 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 is not in you a strange god, And you do not bow yourself to a strange god.

There is to be no strange god among you; you are not to give worship to any other god.

10 I [am] your God YHWH, Who brings you up out of the land of Egypt. Enlarge your mouth, and I 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 did not listen to My voice, And Israel has not consented to Me.

But my people did not give ear to my voice; Israel would have nothing to do with me.

12 And I send them away in the enmity of their heart, They walk in their own counsels.

So I gave them up to the desires of their hearts; that they might go after their evil purposes.

13 O that My people were listening to Me, Israel would walk in My ways.

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

14 As a little thing I cause their enemies to bow, And I turn back My hand against their adversaries,

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

15 Those hating YHWH should have feigned [obedience] to Him, And their time would last for all time.

The haters of the Lord would be broken, and their destruction would be eternal.

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

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