Psalms 81

1 To the Overseer. — 'On the Gittith.' By Asaph. Cry aloud to God our strength, Shout 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 Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, A pleasant harp with psaltery.

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

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

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

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

For [this] is an ordinance for Israel, and a statute of the God of Jacob.

5 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.

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 From the burden his shoulder I turned aside, His hands from the basket pass over.

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

7 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)

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 testify to thee, O Israel, if thou dost 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 is not in thee a strange god, And thou bowest not thyself to a strange god.

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

10 I [am] Jehovah thy God, Who bringeth thee up out of the land of Egypt. Enlarge thy mouth, and I 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 hearkened not to My voice, And Israel hath not consented to Me.

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

12 And I send them away in the enmity of their heart, They walk 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 were hearkening to Me, Israel in My ways would walk.

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

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

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

15 Those hating Jehovah feign obedience to Him, But their time is — to the age.

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

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

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