Psalms 81

1 Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for Asaph himself. Rejoice to God our helper: sing aloud to the God of Jacob.

For the Leader; upon the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength; shout unto the God of Jacob.

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

Take up the melody, and sound the timbrel, the sweet harp with the psaltery.

3 Blow up the trumpet on the new moon, on the noted day of your solemnity.

Blow the horn at the new moon, at the full moon for our feast-day.

4 For it is a commandment in Israel, and a judgment to the God of Jacob.

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

5 He ordained it for a testimony in Joseph, when he came out of the land of Egypt: he heard a tongue which he knew not.

He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when He went forth against the land of Egypt. The speech of one that I knew not did I hear:

6 He removed his back from the burdens: his hands had served in baskets.

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

7 Thou calledst upon me in affliction, and I delivered thee: I heard thee in the secret place of tempest: I proved thee at the waters of contradiction.

Thou didst call in trouble, and I rescued thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

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

Hear, O My people, and I will admonish thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto Me!

9 There shall be no new god in thee: neither shalt thou adore a strange god.

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

10 For 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 the LORD thy God, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt; open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 But my people heard not my voice: and Israel hearkened not to me.

But My people hearkened not to My voice; and Israel would none of Me.

12 So I let them go according to the desires of their heart: they shall walk in their own inventions.

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

13 If my people had heard me: if Israel had walked in my ways:

Oh that My people would hearken unto Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!

14 I should soon have humbled their enemies, and laid my hand on them that troubled them.

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

15 The enemies of the Lord have lied to him: and their time shall be for ever.

The haters of the LORD should dwindle away before Him; and their punishment should endure for ever.

16 And he fed them with the fat of wheat, and filled them with honey out of the rock.

They should also be fed with the fat of wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee.'