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 Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. By Asaph. Sing aloud to God, our strength! Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob!

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

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

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

Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on 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 covenant, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn’t know.

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.

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)

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

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

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

There shall be no strange god in you, neither shall you 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, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

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

But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired 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 hearts, 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 listen to 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 would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.

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

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