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.

Sing aloud to God, our strength! Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob [Supplanter]!

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

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

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

Blow the shofar ·ram horn· at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.

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

For it is a statute for Israel [God prevails], an judgement of the God of Jacob [Supplanter].

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 appointed it in Joseph [May he add] for a testimony, when he went out over the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery], I sh'ma ·heard obeyed· a language that I didn’t know.

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

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

7 Thou calledst 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 called in trouble, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at the waters of Meribah [Quarreling].” (Selah) ·contemplation with musical interlude·.

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

“Sh'ma ·Hear obey·, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel [God prevails], if you would listen to me!

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

There shall be no strange deity in you, neither shall you hawa ·bow low, prostrate· to worship any foreign deity.

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.

I am Adonai, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery]. 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 didn’t sh'ma ·hear obey· my voice. Israel [God prevails] desired none of 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 stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own counsels.

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

Oh that my people would sh'ma ·hear obey· me, that Israel [God prevails] would walk in my ways!

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

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

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

The haters of Adonai would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.

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

But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat. I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”