Psalm 81

For the choir director; on the gittith;a by Asaph. 

1  Sing joyfully to God, our strength. 

Shout happily to the God of Jacob. 

2  Begin a psalm, and strike a tambourine. 

Play lyres and harps with their pleasant music. 

3  Blow the ram’s horn on the day of the new moon, 

on the day of the full moon, 

on our festival days. 

4  This is a law for Israel, 

a legal decision from the God of Jacob. 

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 

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

Israel, if you would only listen to me! 

9  Never keep any strange god among you. 

Never worship a foreign god. 

10  I am the Lord your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt. 

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 

11  “But my people did not listen to me. 

Israel wanted nothing to do with me. 

12  So I let them go their own stubborn ways 

and follow their own advice. 

13  If only my people would listen to me! 

If only Israel would follow me! 

14  I would quickly defeat their enemies. 

I would turn my power against their foes. 

15  Those who hate the Lord would cringe in front of him, 

and their time ⸤for punishment⸥ would last forever. 

16  But I would feed Israel with the finest wheat 

and satisfy them with honey from a rock.”