Psalm 81

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.

1        Sing loud to God our strength; with joy

                   to Jacob's God do sing.

2        Take up a psalm, the pleasant harp,

                   timbrel and psalt'ry bring.

3        Blow trumpets at new-moon, what day

                   our feast appointed is:

4        For charge to Isr'el, and a law

                   of Jacob's God was this.

5        To Joseph this a testimony

                   he made, when Egypt land

          He travell'd through, where speech I heard

                   I did not understand.

6        His shoulder I from burdens took,

                   his hands from pots did free.

7        Thou didst in trouble on me call,

                   and I deliver'd thee:

          In secret place of thundering

                   I did thee answer make;

          And at the streams of Meribah

                   of thee a proof did take.

8        O thou, my people, give an ear,

                   I'll testify to thee;

          To thee, O Isr'el, if thou wilt

                   but hearken unto me.

9        In midst of thee there shall not be

                   any strange god at all;

          Nor unto any god unknown

                   thou bowing down shalt fall.

10      I am the Lord thy God, which did

                   from Egypt land thee guide;

          I'll fill thy mouth abundantly,

                   do thou it open wide.

11      But yet my people to my voice

                   would not attentive be;

          And ev'n my chosen Israel

                   he would have none of me.

12      So to the lust of their own hearts

                   I them delivered;

          And then in counsels of their own

                   they vainly wandered.

13      O that my people had me heard,

                   Isr'el my ways had chose!

14      I had their en'mies soon subdu'd,

                   my hand turn'd on their foes.

15      The haters of the Lord to him

                   submission should have feign'd;

          But as for them, their time should have

                   for evermore remain'd.

16      He should have also fed them with

                   the finest of the wheat;

          Of honey from the rock thy fill

                   I should have made thee eat.