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 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 Lift up psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre 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, at the full moon, on our feast day.

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

For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance 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 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 I removed from the burden his shoulder: his hands left behind the burden-basket.

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

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 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 give warning unto thee; O Israel, if thou wouldst but hearken unto me!

“Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would 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 strange god in you, neither shall you worship any foreign 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.

I am Yahweh, 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 did not hearken to my voice; and Israel was not willing [to follow] me.

But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of 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 stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own counsels.

13 Oh that my people would hearken unto me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

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

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

15 The haters of the Lord should offer flattery unto him; but their time should endure for ever.

The haters of Yahweh would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.

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

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