Psalm 81:1–10

1 Sing praises to God, our strength.

Sing to the God of Jacob.

2 Sing! Beat the tambourine.

Play the sweet lyre and the harp.

3 Blow the ram’s horn at new moon,

and again at full moon to call a festival!

4 For this is required by the decrees of Israel;

it is a regulation of the God of Jacob.

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

8 “Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings.

O Israel, if you would only listen to me!

9 You must never have a foreign god;

you must not bow down before a false god.

10 For it was I, the Lord your God,

who rescued you from the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.