Psalm 81

A Call to Obedience

For the choir director: on the * Gittith. Of * Asaph. y

1 Sing for joy to God our strength;

shout in triumph to the God of Jacob. z

2 Lift up a song—play the tambourine,

the melodious lyre, and the harp. a

3 Blow the horn on the day of our feasts b c

during the new moon d

and during the full moon.

4 For this is a statute for Israel,

a judgment of the God of Jacob. e

5 He set it up as an ordinance for Joseph

when He went throughout f the land of Egypt. g

I heard an unfamiliar language:

6 “I relieved his shoulder from the burden;

his hands were freed from carrying the basket. h

7 You called out in distress, and I rescued you;

I answered you from the thundercloud. i

I tested you at the waters of Meribah. j * Selah

8 Listen, My people, and I will admonish you.

Israel, if you would only listen to Me! k

9 There must not be a strange god among you;

you must not bow down to a foreign god. l

10 I am * Yahweh your God,

who brought you up from the land of Egypt. m

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. n

11 “But My people did not listen to Me;

Israel did not obey Me. o

12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts

to follow their own plans. p

13 If only My people would listen to Me

and Israel would follow My ways, q

14 I would quickly subdue their enemies

and turn My hand against their foes.” r

15 Those who hate the Lord

would pretend submission to Him; s

their doom would last forever. t

16 But He would feed Israel u with the best wheat.

“I would satisfy you with honey from the rock.” v