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 leader. On the gittith. Of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength, shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

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

Raise a song, sound the timbrel, sweet lyre and harp.

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

On the new moon blow the horn, at the full moon, the day of our festival.

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

For this is a statute for Israel, a ruling 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:

a witness he set up in Joseph, when he marched against Egypt’s land, where he heard an unknown voice say:

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

‘I removed from your shoulder the burden, and freed your hands 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)

At your call of distress I delivered you, from the thundercloud I answered you. At Meribah’s waters I tested you. (Selah)

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

‘Listen, my people, to my warning, O Israel, if you would but listen!

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

There must not be a strange god among you, you must bow to no 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 Egypt. Open your mouth, that I 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 would have none of me.

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

So to their own hard hearts I left them, to follow their own devices.

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

O that my people would listen, that Israel would walk in my ways.

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

Soon would I humble their enemies, and turn my hand on their foes.

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

Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him in everlasting terror.

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

But you would I feed with the richest wheat, and with honey from the rock to your heart’s desire.’