Psalm 81
A Call to Obedience
For the choir director: on the Gittith. Of Asaph. t
1 Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob. u
2 Lift up a song—play the tambourine,
the melodious lyre, and the harp. v
3 Blow the horn on the day of our feasts J
during the new moon w
and during the full moon.
4 For this is a statute for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob. x
5 He set it up as a decree for Joseph
when he went throughout K the land of Egypt. y
I heard an unfamiliar language:
6 “I relieved his shoulder from the burden;
his hands were freed from carrying the basket. z
7 You called out in distress, and I rescued you;
I answered you from the thundercloud. a
I tested you at the Waters of Meribah. b Selah
8 Listen, my people, and I will admonish you.
Israel, if you would only listen to me! c
9 There must not be a strange god among you;
you must not bow down to a foreign god. d
who brought you up from the land of Egypt. e
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. f
11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel did not obey me. g
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own plans. h
13 If only my people would listen to me
and Israel would follow my ways, i
14 I would quickly subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.” j
would cower to him; k
their doom would last forever. l
16 But he would feed Israel L with the best wheat.
“I would satisfy you with honey from the rock.” m