Psalm 81

A CALL TO OBEDIENCE

For the choir director: on the Gittith. Of Asaph.aa

1 Sing for joy to God our strength;

shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.ab

2 Lift up a song—play the tambourine,

the melodious lyre, and the harp.ac

3 Blow the trumpet on the day of our feastsH

during the new moonad

and during the full moon.

4 For this is a statute for Israel,

an ordinance of the God of Jacob.ae

5 He set it up as a decree for Joseph

when he went throughoutI the land of Egypt.af

I heard an unfamiliar language:

6 “I relieved his shoulder from the burden;

his hands were freed from carrying the basket.ag

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

I answered you from the thundercloud.ah

I tested you at the Waters of Meribah.ai

Selah

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

Israel, if you would only listen to me!aj

9 There must not be a strange god among you;

you must not bow down to a foreign god.ak

10 I am the Lord your God,

who brought you up from the land of Egypt.al

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

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;

Israel did not obey me.a

12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts

to follow their own plans.b

13 If only my people would listen to me

and Israel would follow my ways,c

14 I would quickly subdue their enemies

and turn my hand against their foes.”d

15 Those who hate the Lord

would cower to him;e

their doom would last forever.f

16 But he would feed IsraelA with the best wheat.

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