Psalms 81

1 Make a song to God our strength: make a glad cry to the God of Jacob.

1A psalm for Asaph. God hath stood in the congregation of gods: and being in the midst of them he judgeth gods.

1To the Overseer. --`On the Gittith.' By Asaph. Cry aloud to God our strength, Shout to the God of Jacob.

2Take up the melody, playing on an instrument of music, even on corded instruments.

2How long will you judge unjustly: and accept the persons of the wicked?

2Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, A pleasant harp with psaltery.

3Let the horn be sounded in the time of the new moon, at the full moon, on our holy feast-day:

3Judge for the needy and fatherless: do justice to the humble and the poor.

3Blow in the month a trumpet, In the new moon, at the day of our festival,

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

4Rescue the poor; and deliver the needy out of the hand of the sinner.

4For a statute to Israel it <FI>is<Fi> , An ordinance of the God of Jacob.

5He gave it to Joseph as a witness, when he went out over the land of Egypt; then the words of a strange tongue were sounding in my ears.

5They have not known nor understood: they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth shall be moved.

5A testimony on Joseph He hath placed it, In his going forth over the land of Egypt. A lip, I have not known--I hear.

6I took the weight from his back; his hands were made free from the baskets.

6I have said: You are gods and all of you the sons of the most High.

6From the burden his shoulder I turned aside, His hands from the basket pass over.

7You gave a cry in your trouble, and I made you free; I gave you an answer in the secret place of the thunder; I put you to the test at the waters of Meribah. (Selah.)

7But you like men shall die: and shall fall like one of the princes.

7In distress thou hast called and I deliver thee, I answer thee in the secret place of thunder, I try thee by the waters of Meribah. Selah.

8Give ear, O my people, and I will give you my word, O Israel, if you will only do as I say!

8Arise, O God, judge thou the earth: for thou shalt inherit among all the nations.

8Hear, O My people, and I testify to thee, O Israel, if thou dost hearken to me:

9There is to be no strange god among you; you are not to give worship to any other god.

9(not in this translation)

9There is not in thee a strange god, And thou bowest not thyself to a strange god.

10I am the Lord your God, who took you up from the land of Egypt: let your mouth be open wide, so that I may give you food.

10(not in this translation)

10I <FI>am<Fi> Jehovah thy God, Who bringeth thee up out of the land of Egypt. Enlarge thy mouth, and I fill it.

11But my people did not give ear to my voice; Israel would have nothing to do with me.

11(not in this translation)

11But, My people hearkened not to My voice, And Israel hath not consented to Me.

12So I gave them up to the desires of their hearts; that they might go after their evil purposes.

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12And I send them away in the enmity of their heart, They walk in their own counsels.

13If only my people would give ear to me, walking in my ways!

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13O that My people were hearkening to Me, Israel in My ways would walk.

14I would quickly overcome their haters: my hand would be turned against those who make war on them.

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14As a little thing their enemies I cause to bow, And against their adversaries I turn back My hand,

15The haters of the Lord would be broken, and their destruction would be eternal.

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15Those hating Jehovah feign obedience to Him, But their time is--to the age.

16I would give them the best grain for food; you would be full of honey from the rock.

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16He causeth him to eat of the fat of wheat, And <FI>with<Fi> honey from a rock I satisfy thee!