Psalms 81

1 [To the chief Musician upon Gittith, {A Psalm} of Asaph.] Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. {of Asaph: or, for Asaph} 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. {through: or, against} 6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots. {were...: Heb. passed away} 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. {Meribah: or, Strife} 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. {unto...: or, to the hardness of their hearts, or, imagination} 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. {submitted...: or, yielded feigned obedience: Heb. lied} 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. {finest...: Heb. fat of wheat}