Psalms 81

1 [For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. By Asaph.] Sing aloud to God, our strength. Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.

For the leader. On the gittith. Of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength, shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

2 Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.

Raise a song, sound the timbrel, sweet lyre and harp.

3 Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.

On the new moon blow the horn, at the full moon, the day of our festival.

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

For this is a statute for Israel, a ruling of the God of Jacob,

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

a witness he set up in Joseph, when he marched against Egypt’s land, where he heard an unknown voice say:

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

‘I removed from your shoulder the burden, and freed your hands from the basket.

7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at the waters of Meribah." (Selah)

At your call of distress I delivered you, from the thundercloud I answered you. At Meribah’s waters I tested you. (Selah)

8 "Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me.

‘Listen, my people, to my warning, O Israel, if you would but listen!

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

There must not be a strange god among you, you must bow to no foreign god.

10 I am the LORD, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt. Open your mouth, that I fill it.

11 But my people did not listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.

‘But my people did not listen to my voice, Israel would have none of me.

12 So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own counsels.

So to their own hard hearts I left them, to follow their own devices.

13 Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways.

O that my people would listen, that Israel would walk in my ways.

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

Soon would I humble their enemies, and turn my hand on their foes.

15 The haters of the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.

Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him in everlasting terror.

16 And he would have fed him with the finest wheat, and satisfied you with honey from the rock."

But you would I feed with the richest wheat, and with honey from the rock to your heart’s desire.’