Psalms 81

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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