Psalms 81

1 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength: make a joyful noise 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 strike the timbrel, the pleasant 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 trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn 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 this was a statute for Israel, and a law 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 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I 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 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

“[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 delivered 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 testify to thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken 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 no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange 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 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 would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would not obey me.

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

12 So I gave them up to their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

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

13 O that my people had hearkened to me, and 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 soon have subdued their enemies, and turned 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 have submitted themselves to him: and their time should have endured for ever.

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

16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock I should have satisfied thee.

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