Psalms 81

1 For the music director. On the gittith. A psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy 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 Start the song! Play the tambourine, sweet-sounding lyre, and harp.

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

3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, and at full moon, to begin our festivals,

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

4 for this is a rule for Israel, a regulation of the God of Jacob.

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

5 God made this statute for Joseph when he opposed the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I didn't know, saying:

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 took the load from your shoulders; I freed your hands from carrying heavy baskets.

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

7 In your suffering you cried out to me, and I saved you. I answered you from the thundercloud. I tested you 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 My people, listen to my warnings! Israel, please listen 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 must not be a strange god among you; you must never bow down to foreign gods and worship them.

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

10 I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide 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 didn't listen to me. Israel didn't want anything to do with me.

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

12 So I sent them away to follow their stubborn thinking, living as they chose.

So I let them go after the ways of their own hearts: they will go on in their own ways.

13 If only my people would listen to me; if only Israel would follow my ways!

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

14 It wouldn't take me long to conquer their enemies, to strike down their foes.

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

15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, forever doomed.

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

16 But I would feed you the best wheat and satisfy you with honey from the rock.”

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