Psalm 81-85
English Standard Version
Oh, That My People Would Listen to Me
To the choirmaster: according to (A)The Gittith.[a] Of (B)Asaph.
81 (C)Sing aloud to God our strength;
(D)shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound (E)the tambourine,
(F)the sweet lyre with (G)the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at (H)the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.
4 For it is a statute for Israel,
a rule[b] of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it (I)a decree in (J)Joseph
when he (K)went out over[c] the land of Egypt.
(L)I hear a language (M)I had not known:
6 “I (N)relieved your[d] shoulder of (O)the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.
7 In distress you (P)called, and I delivered you;
I (Q)answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I (R)tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
8 (S)Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no (T)strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a (U)foreign god.
10 (V)I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
(W)Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel (X)would not submit to me.
12 So I (Y)gave them over to their (Z)stubborn hearts,
to follow their own (AA)counsels.
13 (AB)Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would (AC)walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
and (AD)turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the Lord would (AE)cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
16 But he would feed you[e] with (AF)the finest of the wheat,
and with (AG)honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
Rescue the Weak and Needy
A Psalm of (AH)Asaph.
82 (AI)God (AJ)has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of (AK)the gods he (AL)holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and (AM)show partiality to (AN)the wicked? Selah
3 (AO)Give justice to (AP)the weak and the fatherless;
(AQ)maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 (AR)Rescue the weak and the needy;
(AS)deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
5 (AT)They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
(AU)they walk about in darkness;
(AV)all the foundations of the earth are (AW)shaken.
6 (AX)I said, “You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men (AY)you shall die,
and fall like any prince.”[f]
O God, Do Not Keep Silence
A Song. A Psalm of (BB)Asaph.
83 O God, do not keep silence;
(BC)do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2 For behold, your enemies (BD)make an uproar;
those who hate you have (BE)raised their heads.
3 They lay (BF)crafty plans against your people;
they consult together against your (BG)treasured ones.
4 They say, “Come, (BH)let us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
5 For they conspire with one accord;
against you they make a covenant—
6 the tents of (BI)Edom and (BJ)the Ishmaelites,
(BK)Moab and (BL)the Hagrites,
7 (BM)Gebal and (BN)Ammon and (BO)Amalek,
(BP)Philistia with the inhabitants of (BQ)Tyre;
8 (BR)Asshur also has joined them;
they are the strong arm of (BS)the children of Lot. Selah
9 Do to them as you did to (BT)Midian,
as to (BU)Sisera and Jabin at (BV)the river Kishon,
10 who were destroyed at (BW)En-dor,
who became (BX)dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like (BY)Oreb and Zeeb,
all their princes like (BZ)Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, (CA)“Let us take possession for ourselves
of the pastures of God.”
13 O my God, make them like (CB)whirling dust,[g]
like (CC)chaff before the wind.
14 As (CD)fire consumes the forest,
as the flame (CE)sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so may you pursue them (CF)with your tempest
and terrify them with your hurricane!
16 (CG)Fill their faces with shame,
that they may seek your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be (CH)put to shame and dismayed forever;
let them perish in disgrace,
18 that they may (CI)know that you alone,
(CJ)whose name is the Lord,
are (CK)the Most High over all the earth.
My Soul Longs for the Courts of the Lord
To the choirmaster: according to (CL)The Gittith.[h] A Psalm of (CM)the Sons of Korah.
84 How (CN)lovely is your (CO)dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul (CP)longs, yes, (CQ)faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to (CR)the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
(CS)my King and my God.
4 (CT)Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever (CU)singing your praise! Selah
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
(CV)in whose heart are the highways to Zion.[i]
6 As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
(CW)the early rain also covers it with (CX)pools.
7 They go (CY)from strength to strength;
each one (CZ)appears before God in Zion.
8 O (DA)Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 (DB)Behold our (DC)shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed!
10 For a day (DD)in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be (DE)a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is (DF)a sun and (DG)shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
(DH)No good thing does he withhold
from those who (DI)walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
(DJ)blessed is the one who trusts in you!
Revive Us Again
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of (DK)the Sons of Korah.
85 Lord, you were (DL)favorable to your land;
you (DM)restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You (DN)forgave the iniquity of your people;
you (DO)covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
you (DP)turned from your hot anger.
4 (DQ)Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
5 (DR)Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not (DS)revive us again,
that your people may (DT)rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 (DU)Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will (DV)speak peace to his people, to his (DW)saints;
but let them not (DX)turn back to (DY)folly.
9 Surely his (DZ)salvation is near to those who fear him,
that (EA)glory may dwell in our land.
10 (EB)Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
(EC)righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, (ED)the Lord will give what is good,
and our land (EE)will yield its increase.
13 (EF)Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.
Footnotes
- Psalm 81:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 81:4 Or just decree
- Psalm 81:5 Or against
- Psalm 81:6 Hebrew his; also next line
- Psalm 81:16 That is, Israel; Hebrew him
- Psalm 82:7 Or fall as one man, O princes
- Psalm 83:13 Or like a tumbleweed
- Psalm 84:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 84:5 Hebrew lacks to Zion
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.
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.”
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
- Psalm 81:1 In Hebrew texts 81:1-16 is numbered 81:2-17.
- Psalm 81:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 81:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew is plural.
- Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 83:1 In Hebrew texts 83:1-18 is numbered 83:2-19.
- Psalm 83:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
- Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
- Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
- Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign
- Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.
- Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
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