Psalms 81

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

1 Sing ye joyously untoGod our strength, shout aloud unto theGod of Jacob;

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

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

2 Raise a song, and sound the tambour, the pleasant harp with the lute.

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

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

3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the set time, on our feast day:

3Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

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

4 For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of theGod of Jacob;

4For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

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

5 He ordained it in Joseph [for] a testimony, when he went forth over the land of Egypt, [where] I heard a language that I knew not.

5This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.

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

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

6I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

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

7 Thou 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.

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.

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

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

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

9(not in this translation)

9 There shall no strangegod be in thee, neither shalt thou worship any foreigngod.

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

10(not in this translation)

10 I am Jehovah thyGod, that brought thee up out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

10I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11(not in this translation)

11 But my people hearkened not to my voice, and Israel would none of me.

11But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

12(not in this translation)

12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' stubbornness: they walked after their own counsels.

12So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

13(not in this translation)

13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, that Israel had walked in my ways!

13Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

14(not in this translation)

14 I would soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

14I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

15(not in this translation)

15 The haters of Jehovah would have come cringing unto him; but their time would have been for ever.

15The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.

16(not in this translation)

16 And he would have fed them with the finest of wheat; yea, with honey out of the rock would I have satisfied thee.

16He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.