Psalm 81

An Appeal for Israel’s Repentance

To the Chief Musician. aOn 1An Instrument of Gath. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 Sing aloud to God our strength;

Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.

2 Raise a song and strike the timbrel,

The pleasant harp with the lute.

3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,

At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.

4 For bthis is a statute for Israel,

A law of the God of Jacob.

5 This He established in Joseph as a testimony,

When He went throughout the land of Egypt,

cWhere I heard a language I did not understand.

6 “I removed his shoulder from the burden;

His hands were freed from the baskets.

7 dYou called in trouble, and I delivered you;

eI answered you in the secret place of thunder;

I ftested you at the waters of 2Meribah.

Selah

8 “Hear, gO My people, and I will admonish you!

O Israel, if you will listen to Me!

9 There shall be no hforeign god among you;

Nor shall you worship any foreign god.

10 iI am the Lord your God,

Who brought you out of the land of Egypt;

jOpen your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But My people would not heed My voice,

And Israel would have knone of Me.

12 lSo I gave them over to 3their own stubborn heart,

To walk in their own counsels.

13 “Oh, mthat My people would listen to Me,

That Israel would walk in My ways!

14 I would soon subdue their enemies,

And turn My hand against their adversaries.

15 nThe haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him,

But their 4fate would endure forever.

16 He would ohave fed them also with 5the finest of wheat;

And with honey pfrom the rock I would have satisfied you.”