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!

TO THE OVERSEER. ON THE GITTITH. BY ASAPH. Cry aloud to God our strength, Shout to the God of Jacob.

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

Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, A pleasant harp with stringed instrument.

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

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

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

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

5 He appointed it in Joseph for a covenant, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn’t know.

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.

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

I turned aside his shoulder from the burden, His hands pass over 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)

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)

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

Hear, O My people, and I testify to you, O Israel, if you listen to me:

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

There is not in you a strange god, And you do not bow yourself to a strange 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] your God YHWH, Who brings you up out of the land of Egypt. Enlarge your mouth, and I fill it.

11 But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.

But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel has not consented to Me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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