Psalms 81

1 For the music director. On the gittith. A psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. By Asaph. Sing aloud to God, our strength! Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob!

2 Start the song! Play the tambourine, sweet-sounding lyre, and harp.

Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.

3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, and at full moon, to begin our festivals,

Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.

4 for this is a rule for Israel, a regulation of the God of Jacob.

For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

5 God made this statute for Joseph when he opposed the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I didn't know, saying:

He appointed it in Joseph for a covenant, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I did not know.

6 “I took the load from your shoulders; I freed your hands from carrying heavy baskets.

“I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket.

7 In your suffering you cried out to me, and I saved you. I answered you from the thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

You called in trouble, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” (Selah)

8 My people, listen to my warnings! Israel, please listen to me!

“Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me!

9 There must not be a strange god among you; you must never bow down to foreign gods and worship them.

There shall be no strange god in you, neither shall you worship any foreign god.

10 I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

I am the LORD, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 But my people didn't listen to me. Israel didn't want anything to do with me.

But my people did not listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.

12 So I sent them away to follow their stubborn thinking, living as they chose.

So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own counsels.

13 If only my people would listen to me; if only Israel would follow my ways!

Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

14 It wouldn't take me long to conquer their enemies, to strike down their foes.

I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries.

15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, forever doomed.

The haters of the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.

16 But I would feed you the best wheat and satisfy you with honey from the rock.”

But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat. I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”