Psalms 81

1 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.

For the end, a Psalm for Asaph, concerning the wine presses. Rejoice you in God our helper; shout aloud to the God of Jacob.

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

Take a psalm, and produce the timbrel, the pleasant lute with the harp.

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

Blow the trumpet at the new moon, in the glorious day of your feast.

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

For [this] is an ordinance for Israel, and a statute 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.

He made it [to be] a testimony in Joseph, when he came forth out of the land of Egypt: he heard a language which he understood not.

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

He removed his back from burdens: his hands slaved in making the baskets.

7 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)

You did call upon me in trouble, and I delivered you; I heard you in the secret place of the storm: I proved you at the water of Strife. (Pause)

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

Hear, my people, and I will speak to you, O Israel; and I will testify to you: if you will listen to me;

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

there shall be no new god in you; neither shall you worship a strange god.

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

For I am the Lord your God, that brought you out of the land of Egypt: open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

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

But my people listened not to my voice; and Israel gave no heed to me.

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

So I let them go after the ways of their own hearts: they will go on in their own ways.

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

If my people had listened to me, if Israel had walked in my ways,

14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

I should have put down their enemies very quickly, and should have laid my hand upon those that afflicted them.

15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves to him: and their time should have endured for ever.

The Lord's enemies [should have] lied to him: but their time shall be for ever.

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

And he fed them with the fat of wheat; and satisfied them with honey out of the rock.