Psalm LXXXI

Unto the glorious God, our strength,
Sing all [aloud] with raised voice;
And unto Jacob's mighty God,
[In praise] make all a joyful noise.

Take ye a Psalm, the Timbrel bring
To help our [joyful] melody;
The pleasant Harp, and every string
We'll use with [the sweet] Psaltery.

In the new Moon the Trumpet blow,
[The time] which God, whom we obey,
Appointed us this use to keep,
[Even] on our solemn feast- [ing] day.

A statute this for Israel was,
A Law which [Jacob's] God had sent;

To Joseph made a testimony,
When he from Egypt [saved] went.
He heard a speech not understood,

The [heavy] burdens he did bear
I from his shoulders took, his hands
From [making] pots delivered were.

Thou call'dst in fear: I saved thee,
And from the [secret] thundring sky
I answer'd; and at Meribah
Thy [wavering] trust in me did try.

Hear, O my people, and my mind
I'le [shew and] testifie to thee;
O Israel, if thou wilt obey,
And [truly] hearken unto me.

Then know that no strange God at all,
In thee I [ever] will allow;
Nor shalt thou to any strange God
By way of worship [kneel and] bow.

For I the Lord thy God am he
Who thee from Egypt's [bondage] led,
Open thy mouth wide, and thou shall
[By me] be plentifully fed.

But this my people would not hear
This statute which [to them] I spake;
And Israel would have none of me,
But [this] my [great] Commandment brake.

So to their hardened hearts and lusts
I left them, and [so far] forsook;
And in their own wrong way they walkt,
And their own [foolish] counsel took.

O that my people had receiv'd
My [Word and] Law which I thus made,
And Israel had walked in
My [righteous] Laws, and me obey'd.

I should then quickly have subdu'd
[To them] their feared enemies,
And turn'd my hand against all those
That did [as foes] against them rise.

The haters of the Lord to him
Should have submission [made or] feign'd;
But as for them, their prosp'rous time
Should [surely] ever have remain'd.

He should have fed them with the fat,
And [finest] flower of the Wheat;
And made the Rock with honey flow,
That thou [thereof] thy fill might'st eat.