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 psaltery.
3 Blow the shofar at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
Blow in the month a trumpet, 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 a statute to Israel it [is], 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.
A testimony on Joseph He hath placed it, 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.
From the burden his shoulder I turned aside, His hands from the basket pass over.
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 thou hast called and I deliver thee, I answer thee in the secret place of thunder, I try thee 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 thee, O Israel, if thou dost hearken to me:
9 There shall be no strange god in you, neither shall you worship any foreign god.
There is not in thee a strange god, And thou bowest not thyself 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] Jehovah thy God, Who bringeth thee up out of the land of Egypt. Enlarge thy mouth, and I fill it.
11 But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.
But, My people hearkened not to My voice, And Israel hath 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 hearkening to Me, Israel in My ways would walk.
14 I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries.
As a little thing their enemies I cause to bow, And against their adversaries I turn back My hand,
15 The haters of the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.
Those hating Jehovah feign obedience to Him, But their time is — to the age.
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 causeth him to eat of the fat of wheat, And [with] honey from a rock I satisfy thee!
