Psalms 81

1Sing aloud unto God our strength: Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

1Sing out loud to God, our source of strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

2Raise a song, and bring hither the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the psaltery.

2Start the music and beat the tambourine; play the sweet-sounding harp and the lyre.

3Blow the trumpet at the new moon, At the full moon, on our feast-day.

3Blow the ram’s horn at the new moon, and again when the moon is full, on the day of our feast.

4For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob.

4For this is a law for Israel, a rule given by the God of Jacob.

5He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Egypt, WhereI heard a language that I knew not.

5He made this a law for the descendants of Joseph when he went through the land of Egypt, where I heard a language I did not understand.

6I removed his shoulder from the burden: His hands were freed from the basket.

6The Lord says, 'I took the heavy burden off your shoulder; I took the worker's basket out of your hands.'

7Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. [Selah

7'You cried out in your distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the hidden place of thunder; I tested your faith at the waters of Meribah.'

8Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto me!

8'Listen, my people, and I will warn you; O Israel, if you would only listen to me!'

9There shall no strange god be in thee; Neither shalt thou worship any foreign god.

9'You must not have any strange god among you; you must not bow down to a foreign god.'

10I am Jehovah thy God, Who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt: Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

10'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.'

11But my people hearkened not to my voice; And Israel would none of me.

11'But my people would not listen to my voice; Israel did not want anything to do with me.'

12So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, That they might walk in their own counsels.

12'So I let them follow their own stubborn hearts, to do whatever they thought was best.'

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

13'Oh, how I wish my people would listen to me, and that Israel would follow my ways!'

14I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn my hand against their adversaries.

14'I would quickly defeat their enemies and turn my power against those who oppose them.'

15The haters of Jehovah should submit themselves unto him: But their time should endure for ever.

15'Those who hate the Lord would bow down in fear before him; their punishment would last forever.',

16He would feed them also with the finest of the wheat; And with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee.

16'But I would feed you with the very best wheat; I would satisfy you with honey taken straight from the rock.'