Psalms 81

For the choir director: according to the Gittith. Of Asaph.

1Sing for joy to God, our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob.

2Raise a song and sound the tambourine; play the pleasant lyre with the harp.

3Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on the day of our feast.

4For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

5He established it as a testimony in Joseph when he went out against the land of Egypt. I hear a language I did not know:

6I removed the burden from his shoulder; his hands were freed from the basket.

7In distress you called, and I rescued you; I answered you from the hiding place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

8Listen, my people, and I will warn you; Israel, if only you would listen to me!

9You must have no foreign god among you, and you must not bow down to a god of a foreign land.

10I am Yahweh your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11But my people did not listen to my voice, and Israel was not willing to obey me.

12So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their hearts; they went according to their own plans.

13Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

14In a little while I would subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries.

15Those who hate Yahweh would pretend to submit to him, and their time would last forever.

16But he would feed him with the finest wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.