Psalm 81

Psalms · Chapter 81

Psalms 81:1

1Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.2Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.3Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.4For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.5This 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.6I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.7Thou 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.8Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;9There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.11But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.12So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.13Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!14I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.15The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.16He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
1Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.For the Chief Musician; set to the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength: Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
to the choirmasterלַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ׀lam-na-TZE-achH5329
to conduct

נָצַח (na.tsach) 1) to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring 1a) (Niphal) enduring (participle) 1b) (Piel) to act as overseer or superintendent or director or chief Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsach (נְצַח "to distinguish oneself" H5330)

onעַֽל־'al-H5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

the Gittithהַגִּתִּ֬יתha-gi-TITH1665
Gittith

גִּתִּית (git.tit) § Gittith = "a wine-press" a musical instrument? from Gath? and used in three Psalm titles- Ps 8:1; 81:1; 84:1; a song title used for the Feast of Booths

of Asaphלְאָסָֽף׃le-'a-SAFH0623H
Asaph

אָסָף (a.saph) A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.6.39; son of: Berechiah (H1296H); father of: Zaccur (H2139J), Joseph (H3130I), Nethaniah (H5418H) and Asharelah (H0841) § Asaph = "gatherer" 1) the father of Hezekiah's secretary 2) a son of Berechiah, chief Levite musician under David 3) a Persian officer over the royal forest

sing for joyהַ֭רְנִינוּHAR-ni-nuH7442B
to sing

רָנַן (ra.nan) 1) to cry out, shout for joy, give a ringing cry 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give a ringing cry (in joy, exaltation, distress) 1a2) to cry aloud (in summons, exhortation of wisdom) 1b) (Piel) to give a ringing cry (in joy, exultation, praise 1c) (Pual) ringing cry, singing out (passive) 1d) (Hiphil) to cause to ring or sing out (for joy) 1e) (Hithpolel) rejoicing (participle) Also means: ran.nen (רַנֵּן "to sing" H7444)

to Godלֵאלֹהִ֣יםle-lo-HIMH0430G
God

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

strength ourעוּזֵּ֑נוּ'u-ZE-nuH5797
strength

עֹז (oz) 1) might, strength 1a) material or physical 1b) personal or social or political

shout for joyהָ֝רִ֗יעוּha-RI-'uH7321
to shout

רוּעַ (ru.a) 1) to shout, raise a sound, cry out, give a blast 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to shout a war-cry or alarm of battle 1a2) to sound a signal for war or march 1a3) to shout in triumph (over enemies) 1a4) to shout in applause 1a5) to shout (with religious impulse) 1a6) to cry out in distress 1b) (Polal) to utter a shout 1c) (Hithpolel) 1c1) to shout in triumph 1c2) to shout for joy 2) (Niphal) destroyed

to [the] God ofלֵאלֹהֵ֥יle-lo-HEIH0430G
God

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

Jacobיַעֲקֹֽב׃ya-'a-KOH3290
Jacob

יַעֲקֹב (ya.a.qov) A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478) § Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter" …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.