Psalms 81

1 For the Leader; upon the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength; shout unto the God of Jacob.

Sing [songs] to praise God, who enables us to be strong [when we fight our enemies]; shout joyfully to God, whom we (descendants of Jacob/Israeli people) [worship]!

2 Take up the melody, and sound the timbrel, the sweet harp with the psaltery.

Start [playing] the music, and beat the tambourines, and play nice music on the harps and (lyres/other stringed instruments).

3 Blow the horn at the new moon, at the full moon for our feast-day.

Blow the trumpets [during the festival to celebrate] each new moon and each time the moon is full and during our [other] festivals.

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

[Do that] because that is a law for [us] Israeli [people]; God commanded it for us descendants of Jacob.

5 He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when He went forth against the land of Egypt. The speech of one that I knew not did I hear:

He commanded us Israeli [people to obey it] when he punished [the people of] Egypt. I heard someone [MTY] whose voice I did not recognize, saying,

6 'I removed his shoulder from the burden; His hands were freed from the basket.

“[After the rulers of Egypt forced you Israelis to work as slaves], I took those [heavy] burdens off your backs, and I enabled you to lay down those [heavy] baskets [of bricks that you were carrying].

7 Thou didst call in trouble, and I rescued thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

When you were [greatly] distressed, you called [out to me], and I rescued you; I answered you out of a thundercloud. [Later] I tested [whether you would trust me to give you] water [when you were in the desert] at Meribah.

8 Hear, O My people, and I will admonish thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto Me!

[You who are] my people, listen while I warn you! I wish that you Israeli [people] would pay attention to what I [say to you]!

9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any foreign god.

You must not have any idols of other gods among you; you must never bow to worship any of them!

10 I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt; open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

I am Yahweh, your God; It was [not any of those other gods] who brought you out of Egypt, I am the one who did it! [So] ask me what you want me to do for you [MTY], and I will do it.

11 But My people hearkened not to My voice; and Israel would none of Me.

But my people would not listen to me [SYN]; they would not obey me.

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

So even though they were very stubborn, I allowed them to do whatever they wanted to do.

13 Oh that My people would hearken unto Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!

I wish that my people would listen to me, that the Israeli [people] would behave as I want them to do.

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

[If they did that], I would quickly defeat their enemies; I would strike/punish [all of] them [DOU].

15 The haters of the LORD should dwindle away before Him; and their punishment should endure for ever.

[Then all] those who hate me would (cringe before/bow down to) me, and [then I] would punish them [MTY] forever.

16 They should also be fed with the fat of wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee.'

[But] I would give you [Israelis] very good wheat/grain, and I would fill your stomachs with wild honey.”