Psalms 81

1 “For the leader of the music. On the Gittith. A psalm of Asaph.” Sing joyfully to God, our strength! Shout with gladness to 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 Raise a song, and strike the timbrel, The sweet-sounding harp, and the psaltery!

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

3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon; At the full moon, also, on our festal day!

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

4 For this is a statute for Israel, A law of the God of Jacob;

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

5 He appointed it as a memorial in Joseph, When he went out of the land of Egypt, Where he heard a language which he knew 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 relieved [[said he]] thy shoulders from their burden; Thy hands were removed from the hod.

I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

7 Thou didst call in trouble, and I delivered thee; In the secret place of thunder I answered thee; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. (Pause)

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 admonish thee! O Israel! that thou wouldst hearken to me!

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

9 Let there be no strange god within thee, Nor worship thou any foreign god!

There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

10 I Jehovah am thy God, Who brought thee out of the land of Egypt: Open wide thy mouth, 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 listen to my voice, And Israel would not hearken to me.

But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would not obey me.

12 So I gave them up to the obstinacy of their hearts, And they walked according to their own devices.

So I gave them up to their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

13 “O that my people had hearkened to me! That Israel had walked in my ways!

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

14 Soon would I have brought low 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 Jehovah should have become suppliants to them, And their prosperity 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 With the finest of the wheat I would have fed them, And with honey out of the rock would I have satisfied them.”

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