Psalm 81-85

New International Version

³ Sound the ram’s horn^(E) at the New Moon,^(F)
    and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
⁴ this is a decree for Israel,
    an ordinance of the God of Jacob.^(G)
5 When God went out against Egypt,^(H)
    he established it as a statute for Joseph.

I heard an unknown voice say:^(I)

⁶ “I removed the burden^(J) from their shoulders;^(K)
    their hands were set free from the basket.
⁷ In your distress you called^(L) and I rescued you,
    I answered^(M) you out of a thundercloud;
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah.^[c](N)
8 Hear me, my people,^(O) and I will warn you—
    if you would only listen to me, Israel!
⁹ You shall have no foreign god^(P) among you;
    you shall not worship any god other than me.
¹⁰ I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of Egypt.^(Q)
Open^(R) wide your mouth and I will fill^(S) it.

¹¹ “But my people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.^(T)
12 So I gave them over^(U) to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.

¹³ “If my people would only listen to me,^(V)
    if Israel would only follow my ways,
¹⁴ how quickly I would subdue^(W) their enemies
    and turn my hand against^(X) their foes!
¹⁵ Those who hate the Lord would cringe^(Y) before him,
    and their punishment would last forever.
¹⁶ But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;^(Z)
    with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

² “How long will you^[d] defend the unjust
    and show partiality^(AC) to the wicked?^[e](AD)
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;^(AE)
    uphold the cause of the poor^(AF) and the oppressed.
⁴ Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

⁵ “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.^(AG)
    They walk about in darkness;^(AH)
    all the foundations^(AI) of the earth are shaken.

⁶ “I said, ‘You are “gods”;^(AJ)
    you are all sons of the Most High.’
⁷ But you will die^(AK) like mere mortals;
    you will fall like every other ruler.”

⁸ Rise up,^(AL) O God, judge^(AM) the earth,
    for all the nations are your inheritance.^(AN)

⁵ With one mind they plot together;^(AW)
    they form an alliance against you—
⁶ the tents of Edom^(AX) and the Ishmaelites,
    of Moab^(AY) and the Hagrites,^(AZ)
7 Byblos,^(BA) Ammon^(BB) and Amalek,^(BC)
    Philistia,^(BD) with the people of Tyre.^(BE)
8 Even Assyria^(BF) has joined them
    to reinforce Lot’s descendants.^[g](BG)

⁹ Do to them as you did to Midian,^(BH)
    as you did to Sisera^(BI) and Jabin^(BJ) at the river Kishon,^(BK)
10 who perished at Endor^(BL)
    and became like dung^(BM) on the ground.
¹¹ Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,^(BN)
    all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,^(BO)
12 who said, “Let us take possession^(BP)
    of the pasturelands of God.”

¹³ Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
    like chaff^(BQ) before the wind.
¹⁴ As fire consumes the forest
    or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,^(BR)
15 so pursue them with your tempest^(BS)
    and terrify them with your storm.^(BT)
16 Cover their faces with shame,^(BU) Lord,
    so that they will seek your name.

¹⁷ May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;^(BV)
    may they perish in disgrace.^(BW)
18 Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord^(BX)—
    that you alone are the Most High^(BY) over all the earth.^(BZ)

⁵ Blessed are those whose strength^(CH) is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.^(CI)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;^(CJ)
    the autumn^(CK) rains also cover it with pools.^[k]
7 They go from strength to strength,^(CL)
    till each appears^(CM) before God in Zion.^(CN)

⁸ Hear my prayer,^(CO) Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
⁹ Look on our shield,^[l](CP) O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.^(CQ)

¹⁰ Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper^(CR) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun^(CS) and shield;^(CT)
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold^(CU)
    from those whose walk is blameless.

¹² Lord Almighty,
    blessed^(CV) is the one who trusts in you.

⁴ Restore^(DB) us again, God our Savior,^(DC)
    and put away your displeasure toward us.
⁵ Will you be angry with us forever?^(DD)
    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
⁶ Will you not revive^(DE) us again,
    that your people may rejoice^(DF) in you?
⁷ Show us your unfailing love,^(DG) Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.^(DH)

⁸ I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace^(DI) to his people, his faithful servants—
    but let them not turn to folly.^(DJ)
9 Surely his salvation^(DK) is near those who fear him,
    that his glory^(DL) may dwell in our land.

¹⁰ Love and faithfulness^(DM) meet together;
    righteousness^(DN) and peace kiss each other.
¹¹ Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness^(DO) looks down from heaven.
¹² The Lord will indeed give what is good,^(DP)
    and our land will yield^(DQ) its harvest.
¹³ Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.