< Psalms 81 >
1 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 Start [playing] the music, and beat the tambourines, and play nice music on the harps and (lyres/other stringed instruments).
3 Blow the trumpets [during the festival to celebrate] each new moon and each time the moon is full and during our [other] festivals.
4 [Do that] because that is a law for [us] Israeli [people]; God commanded it for us descendants of Jacob.
5 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 “[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 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 [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 You must not have any idols of other gods among you; you must never bow to worship any of them!
10 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 would not listen to me [SYN]; they would not obey me.
12 So even though they were very stubborn, I allowed them to do whatever they wanted to do.
13 I wish that my people would listen to me, that the Israeli [people] would behave as I want them to do.
14 [If they did that], I would quickly defeat their enemies; I would strike/punish [all of] them [DOU].
15 [Then all] those who hate me would (cringe before/bow down to) me, and [then I] would punish them [MTY] forever.
16 [But] I would give you [Israelis] very good wheat/grain, and I would fill your stomachs with wild honey.”
