Psalms 81
Psalm 811
For the music director; according to the gittith style;2 by Asaph.
81:1 Shout for joy to God, our source of strength!
Shout out to the God of Jacob!
81:2 Sing3 a song and play the tambourine,
the pleasant sounding harp, and the ten-stringed instrument!
81:3 Sound the ram’s horn on the day of the new moon,4
and on the day of the full moon when our festival begins.5
81:4 For observing the festival is a requirement for Israel;6
it is an ordinance given by the God of Jacob.
81:5 He decreed it as a regulation in Joseph,
when he attacked the land of Egypt.7
I heard a voice I did not recognize.8
81:6 It said:9 “I removed the burden from his shoulder;
his hands were released from holding the basket.10
81:7 In your distress you called out and I rescued you.
I answered you from a dark thundercloud.11
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.12 (Selah)
81:8 I said,13 ‘Listen, my people!
I will warn14 you!
O Israel, if only you would obey me!15
81:9 There must be16 no other17 god among you.
You must not worship a foreign god.
81:10 I am the Lord, your God,
the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!’
81:11 But my people did not obey me;18
Israel did not submit to me.19
81:12 I gave them over to their stubborn desires;20
they did what seemed right to them.21
81:13 If only my people would obey me!22
If only Israel would keep my commands!23
81:14 Then I would quickly subdue their enemies,
and attack24 their adversaries.”
81:15 (May those who hate the Lord25 cower in fear26 before him!
May they be permanently humiliated!)27
81:16 “I would feed Israel the best wheat,28
and would satisfy your appetite29 with honey from the rocky cliffs.”30