Psalms 81

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

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.

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

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,

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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:

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

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.

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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.

10(not in this translation)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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,

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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.

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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!

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