1 To the chief musician upon the Gittith; of Asaph.
2 Sing aloud unto God our strength, shout aloud unto the God of Jacob.
3 Raise a song and strike the timbrel, the pleasant harp with psaltery.
4 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the set time, on our feast day.
5 For this [was] a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
6 He appointed it a testimony in Joseph when he went forth over the land of Egypt, [where] I heard a language (lip) I knew not.
7 I removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.
8 In the distress thou didst call, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribab. Selah.
9 Hear, my people, and I will testify unto thee, O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto me.
10 There shall no strange god be in thee, neither shalt thou worship any foreign god.
11 I [am] Jehovah thy God who brought thee up from the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide and I will fill it.
12 And my people hearkened not to my voice, and Israel would none of me.
13 And I gave them up to the revolting of their heart, that they might walk in their own counsels.
14 O that my people would hearken unto me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
15 I should soon have subdued their enemies and turned my hand against their adversaries.
16 The haters of Jehovah should have submitted to him; but their time would have been for ever.
17 And he would have fed them with the finest (fat) of wheat, and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
Notes on Psalm 81
It is “To the chief musician, upon the Gittith, of Asaph.” Here comes the psalm of new year’s day, when the trumpet sounds not for alarm but joy, the joy of gathering the people at the new moon. The full moon will shine in due time. This is the new moon after a long eclipse. Now Israel will receive and reflect light afresh from the Lord. It is clear progress as compared with the preceding psalm. It was Israel that would not hearken, Israel that would none of Jehovah. O! had they, how soon would He have subdued the foe, and blessed themselves in the grace that brought them out of Egypt, till at Sinai they preferred to stand on law, with fear as all must feel who so pretend.