Psalm 81
For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of Asaph.
1Sing joyfully to God! He gives us strength.
Give a loud shout to the God of Jacob!
2Let the music begin. Play the tambourines.
Play sweet music on harps and lyres.
3Blow the ram’s horn on the day of the New Moon feast.
Blow it again when the moon is full and the Feast of Booths begins.
4This is an order given to Israel.
It is a law of the God of Jacob.
5He gave it as a covenant law for the people of Joseph.
It was given when God went out to punish Egypt.
There I heard a voice I didn’t recognize.
6The voice said, “I removed the load from your shoulders.
I set your hands free from carrying heavy baskets.
7You called out when you were in trouble, and I saved you.
I answered you out of a thundercloud.
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
8“My people, listen and I will warn you.
Israel, I wish you would listen to me!
9Don’t have anything to do with the gods of other nations.
Don’t bow down and worship any god other than me.
10I am the Lord your God.
I brought you up out of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.
11“But my people wouldn’t listen to me.
Israel wouldn’t obey me.
12So I let them go their own stubborn way.
I let them follow their own sinful plans.
13“I wish my people would listen to me!
I wish Israel would live as I want them to live!
14Then I would quickly bring their enemies under control.
I would use my power against their attackers.
15Those who hate me would bow down to me in fear.
They would be punished forever.
16But you would be fed with the finest wheat.
I would satisfy you with the sweetest honey.”
To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.
1Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.81.1 of Asaph: or, for Asaph
2Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
4For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
5This 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.81.5 through: or, against
6I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.81.6 were…: Heb. passed away
7Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.81.7 Meribah: or, Strife
8Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
9There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.81.12 unto…: or, to the hardness of their hearts, or, imagination
13Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
14I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
15The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.81.15 submitted…: or, yielded feigned obedience: Heb. lied
16He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.81.16 finest…: Heb. fat of wheat
