Psalm 81
1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.1 2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery. 3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. 4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. 5 This 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.2 6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.3 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.4 8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; 9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. 10 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. 12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.5 13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! 14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.6 16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.7
181:1of Asaph: or, for Asaph281:5through: or, against381:6were…: Heb. passed away481:7Meribah: or, Strife581:12unto…: or, to the hardness of their hearts, or, imagination681:15submitted…: or, yielded feigned obedience: Heb. lied781:16finest…: Heb. fat of wheat