LXXXI GOD’S GOODNESS AND ISRAEL’S WAYWARDNESS
For the Chief Musician; set to the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph.
[1] SING aloud unto God our strength:
Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
[2] Raise a song, and bring〖Or, strike the timbrel.〗 hither the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the psaltery.
[3] Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
At the full moon, on our feastday.
[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 over〖Or, against.〗 the land of Egypt,
Where I heard a〖Or, the speech of one that &c.〗 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 submit〖Or, yield feigned obedience.Heb. lie.〗 themselves unto him:
But their time should endure for ever.
[16] He would feed them also with the finest〖Heb. fat of wheat.〗 of the wheat;
And with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee.