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To the Overcomer upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.

¶ Sing aloud unto God our strength; make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Take the song and play the timbrel, the harp of joy with the psaltery.

Blow the shofar in the new moon in the time appointed on our solemn feast day.

For this is a statute of Israel and an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt where I heard a language that I did not understand.

I removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands were delivered from working with clay.

Thou didst call in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

¶ Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee; O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me,

no strange god shall be in thee, neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

10 I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt; open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 But my people did not hearken to my voice, and Israel did not love me.

12 So I gave them up unto the hardness of their heart, and they walked in their own counsels.

13 Oh, if my people would hearken unto me and Israel would walk in my ways!

14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their adversaries.

15 The haters of the LORD would have submitted themselves unto him, and their time would endure for ever.

16 And God would have fed them also the finest of the wheat, and with honey out of the rock I would have satisfied thee.

Psalm 81[a]

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

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

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

I heard an unknown voice say:(I)

“I removed the burden(J) from their shoulders;(K)
    their hands were set free from the basket.
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)
Hear me, my people,(O) and I will warn you—
    if you would only listen to me, Israel!
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.”

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.