Psalm 81:5–7

5 When God went out against Egypt,

he established it as a statute for Joseph.

I heard an unknown voice say:

6 “I removed the burden from their shoulders;

their hands were set free from the basket.

7 In your distress you called and I rescued you,

I answered you out of a thundercloud;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

5 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony,

When he went out through the land of Egypt:

Where I heard a language that I understood not.

6 I removed his shoulder from the burden:

His hands were delivered from the pots.

7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee;

I answered thee in the secret place of thunder:

I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

5 He made it a law for Israel

when he attacked Egypt to set us free.

I heard an unknown voice say,

6 “Now I will take the load from your shoulders;

I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.

7 You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you;

I answered out of the thundercloud

and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah.

Interlude

5 This He established in Joseph as a testimony,

When He went throughout the land of Egypt,

Where I heard a language I did not understand.

6 “I removed his shoulder from the burden;

His hands were freed from the baskets.

7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you;

I answered you in the secret place of thunder;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

Selah

5 He gave this rule to the people of Joseph

when they went out of the land of Egypt.

I heard a language I did not know, saying:

6 “I took the load off their shoulders;

I let them put down their baskets.

7 When you were in trouble, you called, and I saved you.

I answered you with thunder.

I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

Selah

5 He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony,

When he went out over the land of Egypt,

Where I heard a language that I knew not.

6 I removed his shoulder from the burden:

His hands were freed from the basket.

7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee;

I answered thee in the secret place of thunder;

I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah

5 He ordained it in Joseph for a testimony, when he went forth over the land of Egypt, where I heard a language that I knew not. 6 I removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. 7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

5 These are the instructions God set in place for Joseph 

when Joseph rose to power over Egypt. 

I heard a message I did not understand: 

6 “I removed the burden from his shoulder. 

His hands were freed from the basket. 

7 When you were in trouble, you called out ⸤to me⸥, and I rescued you. 

I was hidden in thunder, but I answered you. 

I tested your ⸤loyalty⸥ at the oasis of Meribah. 

Selah 

5 He set it up as an ordinance for Joseph

when He went throughout the land of Egypt.

I heard an unfamiliar language:

6 “I relieved his shoulder from the burden;

his hands were freed from carrying the basket.

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

I answered you from the thundercloud.

I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

5 He made it a decree in Joseph,

when he went out over the land of Egypt.

I hear a voice I had not known:

6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;

your hands were freed from the basket.

7 In distress you called, and I rescued you;

I answered you in the secret place of thunder;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah.   Selah

5 He made it a statute in Joseph

when he went out against the land of Egypt,

where I heard a language I did not know.

6 “I removed his shoulder from a burden.

His hands were freed from the basket.

7 In this trouble you called, and I rescued you.

Within the secret place of thunder I answered you;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

5 He gave it as a covenant law for the people of Joseph

when God went out to punish Egypt.

There we heard a language we didn’t understand.

6 God said, “I removed the load from your shoulders.

I set your hands free from carrying heavy baskets.

7 You called out when you were in trouble, and I saved you.

I answered you out of a thundercloud.

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

5 He established it for a testimony in Joseph

When he went throughout the land of Egypt.

I heard a language that I did not know:

6 “I relieved his shoulder of the burden,

His hands were freed from the basket.

7 “You called in trouble and I rescued you;

I answered you in the hiding place of thunder;

I proved you at the waters of Meribah.

Selah.