Psalms 81

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 For the leader; "upon the gittith." Of Asaph.	1 A Psalm of Asaph. God has stood in the synagogue of gods, but, in their midst, he decides between gods.
2 Sing joyfully to God our strength; shout in triumph to the God of Jacob!	2 How long will you judge unjustly and favor the faces of sinners?
3 Take up a melody, sound the timbrel, the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.	3 Judge for the indigent and the orphan. Do justice to the humble and the poor.
4 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our solemn feast.	4 Rescue the poor, and free the needy from the hand of the sinner.
5 For this is a law in Israel, an edict of the God of Jacob,	5 They did not know and did not understand. They wander in darkness. All the foundations of the earth will be moved.
6 Who made it a decree for Joseph when he came out of the land of Egypt. II I hear a new oracle:	6 I said: You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High.
7 "I relieved their shoulders of the burden; their hands put down the basket.	7 But you will die like men, and you will fall just like one of the princes.
8 In distress you called and I rescued you; unseen, I spoke to you in thunder; At the waters of Meribah I tested you and said: Selah	8 Rise up, O God. Judge the earth. For you will inherit it with all the nations.
9 'Listen, my people, I give you warning! If only you will obey me, Israel!
10 There must be no foreign god among you; you must not worship an alien god.
11 I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open wide your mouth that I may fill it.'
12 But my people did not listen to my words; Israel did not obey me.
13 So I gave them over to hardness of heart; they followed their own designs.
14 But even now if my people would listen, if Israel would walk in my paths,
15 In a moment I would subdue their foes, against their enemies unleash my hand.
16 Those who hate the LORD would tremble, their doom sealed forever.
17 But Israel I would feed with the finest wheat, satisfy them with honey from the rock."