Salamo 81

1 Ho an’ ny mpiventy hira. Al-gitith. Nataon’ i Asafa. Mihobia ho an’ Andriamanitra herintsika; manaova feo fifaliana ho an’ Andriamanitr’ i Jakoba.

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 Asandrato ny hira, ka velezo ny ampongatapaka, ary tendreo ny lokanga mahafinaritra mbamin’ ny valiha.

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

3 Tsofy ny anjomara amin’ ny volana; eny, amin’ ny feno-volana, dia amin’ ny andro firavoravoantsika.

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

4 Fa lalàna ho an’ ny Isiraely izany, ary fitsipik’ Andriamanitr’ i Jakoba.

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

5 Notendreny ho vavolombelona eo amin’ i Josefa izany, raha nandeha namely ny tany Egypta Izy; nandre teny tsy fantatro aho.

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 Nampiala ny sorony tamin’ ny entana Aho; nitsahatra tsy nitondra sobiky ny tànany.

“[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 Fony azom-pahoriana ianao, dia niantso Ahy, ka namonjy anao Aho; namaly anao tao amin’ ny fiafenan’ ny kotrokorana Aho, ary nizaha toetra anao tao amin’ ny ranon’ i Meriba. (Sela)

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 Mihainoa, ry oloko, dia hambarako aminao; enga anie hihaino Ahy ianao, ry Isiraely.

[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 Aza asiana andriamani-kafa eo aminao; ary aza mivavaka amin’ ny andriamanitry ny firenena hafa.

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

10 Izaho no Jehovah Andriamanitrao, Izay nitondra anao niakatra avy tany amin’ ny tany Egypta; atanatanao ny vavanao, dia hofenoiko.

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 Fa tsy nihaino ny feoko ny oloko; ary ny Isiraely tsy nankato Ahy;

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

12 Ka dia navelako hanaraka ny ditry ny fony Izy, handehanany manaraka ny fisainan’ ny tenany.

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

13 Enga anie ka hihaino Ahy ny oloko, dia handeha amin’ ny lalako ny Isiraely;

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

14 Vetivety dia hampietry ny fahavalony Aho, ka hamerina ny tanako hamely ny rafiny;

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

15 Izay mankahala an’ i Jehovah dia hikoy aminy, ka dia haharitra mandrakizay ny andron’ ny oloko;

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

16 Ary hampihinana azy vary tsara indrindra Izy; eny, tantely avy amin’ ny vatolampy no hamokisako anao.

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