Psalms 81

An Appeal for Israel’s Repentance

To the Chief Musician. #Ps. 8:titleOn an instrument of Gath. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 Sing aloud to God our strength;

Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.

2 Raise a song and strike the timbrel,

The pleasant harp with the lute.

3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,

At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.

4 For *Lev. 23:24; Num. 10:10this is a statute for Israel,

A law of the God of Jacob.

5 This He established in Joseph as a testimony,

When He went throughout the land of Egypt,

*Deut. 28:49; Ps. 114:1; Jer. 5:15Where I heard a language I did not understand.

6 "I removed his shoulder from the burden;

His hands were freed from the baskets.

7 *Ex. 2:23; 14:10; Ps. 50:15You called in trouble, and I delivered you;

*Ex. 19:19; 20:18I answered you in the secret place of thunder;

I *Ex. 17:6, 7; Num. 20:13tested you at the waters of Meribah.

Selah

8 "Hear,*(Ps. 50:7) O My people, and I will admonish you!

O Israel, if you will listen to Me!

9 There shall be no *(Ex. 20:3; Deut. 5:7; 32:12); Ps. 44:20; (Is. 43:12)foreign god among you;

Nor shall you worship any foreign god.

10 *Ex. 20:2; Deut. 5:6I am the Lord your God,

Who brought you out of the land of Egypt;

*Ps. 103:5Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 "But My people would not heed My voice,

And Israel would have*Ex. 32:1; Deut. 32:15none of Me.

12 *(Job 8:4; Acts 7:42; Rom. 1:24, 26)So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart,

To walk in their own counsels.

13 "Oh,*(Deut. 5:29; Is. 48:18) that My people would listen to Me,

That Israel would walk in My ways!

14 I would soon subdue their enemies,

And turn My hand against their adversaries.

15 *Rom. 1:30The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him,

But their fate would endure forever.

16 He would *Deut. 32:14have fed them also with the finest of wheat;

And with honey *Job 29:6from the rock I would have satisfied you."