Psalms 81

1 For the end, a Psalm for Asaph, concerning the wine presses. Rejoice you in God our helper; shout aloud to 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 a psalm, and produce the timbrel, the pleasant lute with the harp.

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

3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, in the glorious day of your feast.

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 [this] is an ordinance for Israel, and a statute 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 made it [to be] a testimony in Joseph, when he came forth out of the land of Egypt: he heard a language which he understood not.

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 He removed his back from burdens: his hands slaved in making the baskets.

“[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 You did call upon me in trouble, and I delivered you; I heard you in the secret place of the storm: I proved you at the water of Strife. (Pause)

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, my people, and I will speak to you, O Israel; and I will testify to you: if you will listen to 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 be no new god in you; neither shall you worship a strange god.

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

10 For I am the Lord your God, that brought you out of the land of Egypt: open your 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 listened not to my voice; and Israel gave no heed to me.

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

12 So I let them go after the ways of their own hearts: they will go on in their own ways.

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

13 If my people had listened to me, if Israel had walked 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 should have put down their enemies very quickly, and should have laid my hand upon those that afflicted them.

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

15 The Lord's enemies [should have] lied to him: but their time shall be for ever.

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

16 And he fed them with the fat of wheat; and satisfied them with honey out of the rock.

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