Psalm 81

God’s Goodness and Israel’s Waywardness.

For the music director; #81:0 Or according toon the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 Sing for joy to God our strength;

Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob.

2 Raise a song, strike the tambourine,

The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.

3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,

At the full moon, on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel,

An ordinance of the God of Jacob.

5 He established it as a testimony in Joseph

When he *81:5 Lit went out overwent throughout the land of Egypt.

I heard a language I did not know:

6 "I *81:6 Lit removed his shoulder fromrelieved his shoulder of the burden,

His hands were freed from the *81:6 Or brick loadbasket.

7 "You called in trouble and I rescued you;

I answered you in the hiding place of thunder;

I put you to the test at the waters of Meribah. Selah

8 "Hear, My people, and I will admonish you;

Israel, if you would listen to Me!

9 "There shall be no strange god among you;

Nor shall you worship a foreign god.

10 "I, the Lord, am your God,

Who brought you up from the land of Egypt;

Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

11 "But My people did not listen to My voice,

And Israel did not *81:11 Lit yield toobey Me.

12 "So I gave *81:12 Lit himthem over to the stubbornness of their heart,

To walk by their own plans.

13 "Oh that My people would listen to Me,

That Israel would walk in My ways!

14 "I would quickly subdue their enemies

And turn My hand against their adversaries.

15 "Those who hate the Lord would pretend to obey Him,

And their time of punishment would be forever.

16 "*81:16 Lit He would feed himBut I would feed you with the *81:16 Lit fatfinest of the wheat,

And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."