Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close ASV

Psalm 81-85
American Standard Version

God’s goodness and Israel’s waywardness.

For the Chief Musician; set to the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph.

81 Sing aloud unto God our strength:
Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2 Raise a song, and [a]bring hither the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
At the full moon, on our feast-day.
4 For it is a statute for Israel,
An ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5 He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony,
When he went out [b]over the land of Egypt,
Where I heard [c]a language that I knew not.
6 I removed his shoulder from the burden:
His hands were freed from the basket.
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 wouldest hearken unto me!
9 There shall no strange god be in thee;
Neither shalt thou worship any foreign god.
10 I am Jehovah thy God,
Who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt:
Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 But my people hearkened not to my voice;
And Israel would none of me.
12 So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart,
That they might walk in their own counsels.
13 Oh that my people would hearken unto me,
That Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies,
And turn my hand against their adversaries.
15 The haters of Jehovah should [d]submit themselves unto him:
But their time should endure for ever.
16 He would feed them also with the [e]finest of the wheat;
And with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee.

Unjust judgments rebuked.

A Psalm of Asaph.

82 God standeth in the congregation of God;
He judgeth among the gods.
2 How long will ye judge unjustly,
And respect the persons of the wicked? Selah

3 Judge the [f]poor and fatherless:
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
4 Rescue the [g]poor and needy:
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.
5 They know not, neither do they understand;
They walk to and fro in darkness:
All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I said, Ye are gods,
And all of you sons of the Most High.
7 Nevertheless ye shall die like men,
And fall like one of the princes.
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
For thou shalt inherit all the nations.

God implored to confound his enemies.

A Song, a Psalm of Asaph.

83 O God, keep not thou silence:
Hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult;
And they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3 They take crafty counsel against thy people,
And consult together against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation;
That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have consulted together with one consent;
Against thee do they make a covenant:
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab, and the [h]Hagarenes;
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre:
8 Assyria also is joined with them;
They have [i]helped the children of Lot. Selah
9 Do thou unto them as unto Midian,
As to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;
10 Who perished at Endor,
Who became as dung for the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb;
Yea, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna;
12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves in possession
The [j]habitations of God.
13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust;
As stubble before the wind.
14 As the fire that burneth the forest,
And as the flame that setteth the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them with thy tempest,
And terrify them with thy storm.
16 Fill their faces with confusion,
That they may seek thy name, O Jehovah.
17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever;
Yea, let them be confounded and perish;
18 That they may know that [k]thou alone, whose name is Jehovah,
Art the Most High over all the earth.

Longing for the Temple worship.

For the Chief Musician; set to the Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

84 How [l]amiable are thy tabernacles,
O Jehovah of hosts!
2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of Jehovah;
My heart and my flesh [m]cry out unto the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,
Even thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts,
My King, and my God.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house:
They will be still praising thee. Selah
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee;
In whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 Passing through the valley of [n]Weeping they make it a place of springs;
Yea, the early rain covereth it with blessings.
7 They go from strength to strength;
Every one of them appeareth before God in Zion.
8 O Jehovah God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah
9 [o]Behold, O God our shield,
And look upon the face of thine anointed.
10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.
I had rather [p]be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,
Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For Jehovah God is a sun and a shield:
Jehovah will give grace and glory;
No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
12 O Jehovah of hosts,
Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Prayer for God’s mercy upon the nation.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

85 Jehovah, thou hast been favorable unto thy land;
Thou hast [q]brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people;
Thou hast covered all their sin. Selah
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath;
Thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
4 [r]Turn us, O God of our salvation,
And cause thine indignation toward us to cease.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever?
Wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not quicken us again,
That thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Show us thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah,
And grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hear what God Jehovah will speak;
For he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints:
But let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth springeth out of the earth;
And righteousness hath looked down from heaven.
12 Yea, Jehovah will give that which is good;
And our land shall yield its increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him,
And shall [s]make his footsteps a way to walk in.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 81:2 Or, strike the timbrel
  2. Psalm 81:5 Or, against
  3. Psalm 81:5 Or, the speech of one that etc.
  4. Psalm 81:15 Or, yield feigned obedience. Hebrew lie.
  5. Psalm 81:16 Hebrew fat of wheat.
  6. Psalm 82:3 Or, weak
  7. Psalm 82:4 Or, weak
  8. Psalm 83:6 Or, Hagrites. See 1 Chr. 5:10.
  9. Psalm 83:8 Hebrew been an arm to the children of Lot.
  10. Psalm 83:12 Or, pastures
  11. Psalm 83:18 Or, thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art etc.
  12. Psalm 84:1 Or, lovely
  13. Psalm 84:2 Or, sing for joy
  14. Psalm 84:6 Or, balsam-trees. Hebrew Baca. See 2 Sam. 5:23.
  15. Psalm 84:9 Or, Behold our shield, O God
  16. Psalm 84:10 Or, stand at the threshold of etc.
  17. Psalm 85:1 Or, returned to
  18. Psalm 85:4 Or, Turn to us
  19. Psalm 85:13 Or, set us in the way of his steps
Listen to Psalm 81-85
Close NIV

Psalm 81-85
New International Version

Psalm 81[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of Asaph.

1 Sing for joy to God our strength;
    shout aloud to the God of Jacob!(A)
2 Begin the music, strike the timbrel,(B)
    play the melodious harp(C) and lyre.(D)

3 Sound the ram’s horn(E) at the New Moon,(F)
    and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
4 this is a decree for Israel,
    an ordinance of the God of Jacob.(G)
5 When God went out against Egypt,(H)
    he established it as a statute for Joseph.

I heard an unknown voice say:(I)

6 “I removed the burden(J) from their shoulders;(K)
    their hands were set free from the basket.
7 In your distress you called(L) and I rescued you,
    I answered(M) you out of a thundercloud;
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah.[c](N)
8 Hear me, my people,(O) and I will warn you—
    if you would only listen to me, Israel!
9 You shall have no foreign god(P) among you;
    you shall not worship any god other than me.
10 I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of Egypt.(Q)
Open(R) wide your mouth and I will fill(S) it.

11 “But my people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.(T)
12 So I gave them over(U) to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.

13 “If my people would only listen to me,(V)
    if Israel would only follow my ways,
14 how quickly I would subdue(W) their enemies
    and turn my hand against(X) their foes!
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe(Y) before him,
    and their punishment would last forever.
16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;(Z)
    with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Psalm 82

A psalm of Asaph.

1 God presides in the great assembly;
    he renders judgment(AA) among the “gods”:(AB)

2 “How long will you[d] defend the unjust
    and show partiality(AC) to the wicked?[e](AD)
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;(AE)
    uphold the cause of the poor(AF) and the oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

5 “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.(AG)
    They walk about in darkness;(AH)
    all the foundations(AI) of the earth are shaken.

6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”;(AJ)
    you are all sons of the Most High.’
7 But you will die(AK) like mere mortals;
    you will fall like every other ruler.”

8 Rise up,(AL) O God, judge(AM) the earth,
    for all the nations are your inheritance.(AN)

Psalm 83[f]

A song. A psalm of Asaph.

1 O God, do not remain silent;(AO)
    do not turn a deaf ear,
    do not stand aloof, O God.
2 See how your enemies growl,(AP)
    how your foes rear their heads.(AQ)
3 With cunning they conspire(AR) against your people;
    they plot against those you cherish.(AS)
4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy(AT) them as a nation,(AU)
    so that Israel’s name is remembered(AV) no more.”

5 With one mind they plot together;(AW)
    they form an alliance against you—
6 the tents of Edom(AX) and the Ishmaelites,
    of Moab(AY) and the Hagrites,(AZ)
7 Byblos,(BA) Ammon(BB) and Amalek,(BC)
    Philistia,(BD) with the people of Tyre.(BE)
8 Even Assyria(BF) has joined them
    to reinforce Lot’s descendants.[g](BG)

9 Do to them as you did to Midian,(BH)
    as you did to Sisera(BI) and Jabin(BJ) at the river Kishon,(BK)
10 who perished at Endor(BL)
    and became like dung(BM) on the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,(BN)
    all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,(BO)
12 who said, “Let us take possession(BP)
    of the pasturelands of God.”

13 Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
    like chaff(BQ) before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest
    or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,(BR)
15 so pursue them with your tempest(BS)
    and terrify them with your storm.(BT)
16 Cover their faces with shame,(BU) Lord,
    so that they will seek your name.

17 May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;(BV)
    may they perish in disgrace.(BW)
18 Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord(BX)—
    that you alone are the Most High(BY) over all the earth.(BZ)

Psalm 84[h]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[i] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,(CA)
    Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns,(CB) even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.(CC)
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,(CD)
    Lord Almighty,(CE) my King(CF) and my God.(CG)
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.[j]

5 Blessed are those whose strength(CH) is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(CI)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;(CJ)
    the autumn(CK) rains also cover it with pools.[k]
7 They go from strength to strength,(CL)
    till each appears(CM) before God in Zion.(CN)

8 Hear my prayer,(CO) Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[l](CP) O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.(CQ)

10 Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(CR) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(CS) and shield;(CT)
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(CU)
    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed(CV) is the one who trusts in you.

Psalm 85[m]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
    you restored the fortunes(CW) of Jacob.
2 You forgave(CX) the iniquity(CY) of your people
    and covered all their sins.[n]
3 You set aside all your wrath(CZ)
    and turned from your fierce anger.(DA)

4 Restore(DB) us again, God our Savior,(DC)
    and put away your displeasure toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?(DD)
    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive(DE) us again,
    that your people may rejoice(DF) in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love,(DG) Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.(DH)

8 I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace(DI) to his people, his faithful servants—
    but let them not turn to folly.(DJ)
9 Surely his salvation(DK) is near those who fear him,
    that his glory(DL) may dwell in our land.

10 Love and faithfulness(DM) meet together;
    righteousness(DN) and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness(DO) looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,(DP)
    and our land will yield(DQ) its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 81:1 In Hebrew texts 81:1-16 is numbered 81:2-17.
  2. Psalm 81:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 81:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  4. Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew is plural.
  5. Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  6. Psalm 83:1 In Hebrew texts 83:1-18 is numbered 83:2-19.
  7. Psalm 83:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  8. Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
  9. Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  10. Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
  11. Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
  12. Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign
  13. Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.
  14. Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Next
Psalm 80
Psalm 86
Next
dropdown
American Standard Version (ASV)

Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV