Psalm 81

For the choir director. According to the gittith. Of Asaph.

1Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

2Raise a song and strike the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.

3Blow the ram’s horn at the new moon, at the full moon, on the day of our festival.

4For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

5He made it a testimony in Joseph when he went out against the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I did not know:

6“I removed the burden from his shoulder; his hands were freed from the basket.

7In distress you called, and I rescued you; I answered you from the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

8Hear, my people, and I will warn you; Israel, if only you would listen to me!

9There must be no strange god among you; you must not bow down to a foreign god.

10I am Yahweh your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would have none of me.

12So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own plans.

13If only my people would listen to me, if Israel would walk in my ways,

14I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.

15Those who hate Yahweh would cringe before him, and their doom would last forever.

16But he would feed Israel with the finest wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”