Psalms 81

1 “To the chief musician upon Gittith; by Assaph.” Sing aloud unto God our strength: shout joyfully unto 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 psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

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

3 Blow on the new moon the cornet, at the time appointed, on the day of our feast.

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

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

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

5 As a testimony in Joseph did he ordain it, when he went out over the land of Egypt. The language of one I had not known did 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 I removed from the burden his shoulder: his hands left behind the burden-basket.

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

7 In distress thou didst call, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret of the 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 give warning unto thee; O Israel, if thou wouldst but hearken unto 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 not be among thee a foreign God; nor shalt thou bow thyself down to 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 have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt: open wide thy mouth, 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 did not hearken to my voice; and Israel was not willing [to follow] me.

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

12 So I let them go in the stubbornness of their own hearts: 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 Oh that my people would hearken unto me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

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

14 In a little while would I subdue their enemies, and against their adversaries would I turn my hand.

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 offer flattery unto him; but their time should endure for ever.

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

16 And he would feed him with the best of wheat: and out of the rock would I satisfy thee with honey.

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