Psalms

The third book of Psalms, song 81, New English Translation and King James Version

Psalm 81

New English Translation

   For the music director; according to the gittith style; by Asaph.
   1 Shout for joy to God, our source of strength! Shout out to the God of Jacob!
   2 Sing a song and play the tambourine, the pleasant sounding harp, and the ten-stringed instrument!
   3 Sound the ram's horn on the day of the new moon, and on the day of the full moon when our festival begins.
   4 For observing the festival is a requirement for Israel; it is an ordinance given by the God of Jacob.
   5 He decreed it as a regulation in Joseph, when he attacked the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I did not recognize.
   6 It said: "I removed the burden from his shoulder; his hands were released from holding the basket.
   7 In your distress you called out and I rescued you. I answered you from a dark thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)
   8 I said, 'Listen, my people! I will warn you! O Israel, if only you would obey me!
   9 There must be no other god among you. You must not worship a foreign god.
   10 I am the LORD, your God, the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it! aaa'
   11 But my people did not obey me; Israel did not submit to me.
   12 I gave them over to their stubborn desires; they did what seemed right to them.
   13 If only my people would obey me! If only Israel would keep my commands!
   14 Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and attack their adversaries."
   15 (May those who hate the LORD cower in fear before him! May they be permanently humiliated! )
   16 "I would feed Israel the best wheat, and would satisfy your appetite with honey from the rocky cliffs."

King James Version

   To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.
   1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
   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.
   6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   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.