Psalm 8136

For the music director; according to the gittith style;37 by Asaph.

81:1 Shout for joy to God, our source of strength!

Shout out to the God of Jacob!

81:2 Sing1 a song and play the tambourine,

the pleasant sounding harp, and the ten-stringed instrument!

81:3 Sound the ram’s horn on the day of the new moon,2

and on the day of the full moon when our festival begins.3

81:4 For observing the festival is a requirement for Israel;4

it is an ordinance given by the God of Jacob.

81:5 He decreed it as a regulation in Joseph,

when he attacked the land of Egypt.5

I heard a voice I did not recognize.6

81:6 It said:7 “I removed the burden from his shoulder;

his hands were released from holding the basket.8

81:7 In your distress you called out and I rescued you.

I answered you from a dark thundercloud.9

I tested you at the waters of Meribah.10

(Selah)

81:8 I said,11 ‘Listen, my people!

I will warn12 you!

O Israel, if only you would obey me!13

81:9 There must be14 no other15 god among you.

You must not worship a foreign god.

81:10 I am the Lord, your God,

the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!’

81:11 But my people did not obey me;16

Israel did not submit to me.17

81:12 I gave them over to their stubborn desires;18

they did what seemed right to them.19

81:13 If only my people would obey me!20

If only Israel would keep my commands!21

81:14 Then I would quickly subdue their enemies,

and attack22 their adversaries.”

81:15 (May those who hate the Lord23 cower in fear24 before him!

May they be permanently humiliated!)25

81:16 “I would feed Israel the best wheat,26

and would satisfy your appetite27 with honey from the rocky cliffs.”28