Psalms 81

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Ref <To the chief music-maker; put to the Gittith. Of Asaph.> Make a song to God our strength: make a glad cry to the God of Jacob.

2 Ref Take up the melody, playing on an instrument of music, even on corded instruments.

3 Ref Let the horn be sounded in the time of the new moon, at the full moon, on our holy feast-day:

4 For this is a rule for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

5 Ref He gave it to Joseph as a witness, when he went out over the land of Egypt; then the words of a strange tongue were sounding in my ears.

6 Ref I took the weight from his back; his hands were made free from the baskets.

7 Ref You gave a cry in your trouble, and I made you free; I gave you an answer in the secret place of the thunder; I put you to the test at the waters of Meribah. (Selah.)

8 Ref Give ear, O my people, and I will give you my word, O Israel, if you will only do as I say!

9 Ref There is to be no strange god among you; you are not to give worship to any other god.

10 Ref I am the Lord your God, who took you up from the land of Egypt: let your mouth be open wide, so that I may give you food.

11 Ref But my people did not give ear to my voice; Israel would have nothing to do with me.

12 Ref So I gave them up to the desires of their hearts; that they might go after their evil purposes.

13 Ref If only my people would give ear to me, walking in my ways!

14 Ref I would quickly overcome their haters: my hand would be turned against those who make war on them.

15 Ref The haters of the Lord would be broken, and their destruction would be eternal.

16 Ref I would give them the best grain for food; you would be full of honey from the rock.

American Standard-ASV1901 (ASV)

1 Ref Sing aloud unto God our strength: Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

2 Ref Raise a song, and bring hither the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the psaltery.

3 Ref Blow the trumpet at the new moon, At the full moon, on our feast-day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob.

5 Ref He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Egypt, `Where' I heard a language that I knew not.

6 Ref I removed his shoulder from the burden: His hands were freed from the basket.

7 Ref 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 Ref Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto me!

9 Ref There shall no strange god be in thee; Neither shalt thou worship any foreign god.

10 Ref 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 Ref But my people hearkened not to my voice; And Israel would none of me.

12 Ref So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, That they might walk in their own counsels.

13 Ref Oh that my people would hearken unto me, That Israel would walk in my ways!

14 Ref I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn my hand against their adversaries.

15 Ref The haters of Jehovah should submit themselves unto him: But their time should endure for ever.

16 Ref He would feed them also with the finest of the wheat; And with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee. Psalm 82 A Psalm of Asaph.

King James Version (KJV)

1 Ref Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

2 Ref Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

3 Ref Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

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

6 Ref I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

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

9 Ref There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

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

11 Ref But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

12 Ref So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

13 Ref Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

14 Ref I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

15 Ref The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.

16 Ref He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

Chapter 81 of 150

Begin Your Journey of Faith

We all start at different points in our walk with Christ. No matter where you are, we're here to support you as you grow in faith.

Accept Jesus Christ as Your Savior

If you haven’t made the decision to follow Jesus yet, we want to walk with you as you discover the new life He offers.

Read "A Truly Free Gift"

What Guides Our Walk With Christ

Discover the biblical truths and core beliefs that shape how we live, serve, and walk faithfully with Christ each day.

Explore Our Beliefs

Join a Community of Believers

Don’t walk through life alone. Find others to connect with, whether in person or online, and grow together in Christ.

Discover Where We Meet