Psalm 81:1

New International Version

Psalm 81^[a]

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

¹Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout aloud to the God of Jacob!^(A)

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Footnotes

Psalm 81:1 In Hebrew texts 81:1-16 is numbered 81:2-17.
Psalm 81:1 Title: Probably a musical term

Psalm 81:1 in all English translations

Psalm 81:10-16

New International Version

¹⁰I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.^(A)
Open^(B) wide your mouth and I will fill^(C) it.

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

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

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Jeremiah 12:1-13

New International Version

Jeremiah’s Complaint

12 You are always righteous,^(A) Lord,
    when I bring a case^(B) before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:^(C)
    Why does the way of the wicked prosper?^(D)
    Why do all the faithless live at ease?
²You have planted^(E) them, and they have taken root;
    they grow and bear fruit.^(F)
You are always on their lips
    but far from their hearts.^(G)
³Yet you know me, Lord;
    you see me and test^(H) my thoughts about you.
Drag them off like sheep^(I) to be butchered!
    Set them apart for the day of slaughter!^(J)
⁴How long will the land lie parched^(K)
    and the grass in every field be withered?^(L)
Because those who live in it are wicked,
    the animals and birds have perished.^(M)
Moreover, the people are saying,
    “He will not see what happens to us.”

God’s Answer

⁵“If you have raced with men on foot
    and they have worn you out,
    how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble^[a] in safe country,
    how will you manage in the thickets^(N) by^[b] the Jordan?
⁶Your relatives, members of your own family—
    even they have betrayed you;
    they have raised a loud cry against you.^(O)
Do not trust them,
    though they speak well of you.^(P)

⁷“I will forsake^(Q) my house,
    abandon^(R) my inheritance;
I will give the one I love^(S)
    into the hands of her enemies.^(T)
⁸My inheritance has become to me
    like a lion^(U) in the forest.
She roars at me;
    therefore I hate her.^(V)
⁹Has not my inheritance become to me
    like a speckled bird of prey
    that other birds of prey surround and attack?
Go and gather all the wild beasts;
    bring them to devour.^(W)
¹⁰Many shepherds^(X) will ruin my vineyard
    and trample down my field;
they will turn my pleasant field
    into a desolate wasteland.^(Y)
¹¹It will be made a wasteland,^(Z)
    parched and desolate before me;^(AA)
the whole land will be laid waste
    because there is no one who cares.
¹²Over all the barren heights in the desert
    destroyers will swarm,
for the sword^(AB) of the Lord^(AC) will devour^(AD)
    from one end of the land to the other;^(AE)
    no one will be safe.^(AF)
¹³They will sow wheat but reap thorns;
    they will wear themselves out but gain nothing.^(AG)
They will bear the shame of their harvest
    because of the Lord’s fierce anger.”^(AH)

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Footnotes

Jeremiah 12:5 Or you feel secure only
Jeremiah 12:5 Or the flooding of

1 Peter 4:7-11

New International Version

⁷The end of all things is near.^(A) Therefore be alert and of sober mind^(B) so that you may pray. ⁸Above all, love each other deeply,^(C) because love covers over a multitude of sins.^(D) ⁹Offer hospitality^(E) to one another without grumbling.^(F) ¹⁰Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,^(G) as faithful^(H) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.^(I) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,^(J) so that in all things God may be praised^(K) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.^(L)