Psalm, 81

To the director; upon the Gitʹtith.^*1 Of Aʹsaph.

¹ Shout joyfully to God our strength. Shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.

² Begin the music and take a tambourine, The melodious harp together with the stringed instrument.

³ Blow the horn on the new moon, On the full moon, for the day of our festival.

⁴ For it is a decree for Israel, A ruling of the God of Jacob.

⁵ He established it as a reminder for Joseph When He went out against the land of Egypt. I heard a voice^*1 that I did not recognize:

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

⁷ In your distress you called, and I rescued you; I answered you from the thundercloud.^*1 I tested you at the waters of Merʹi·bah.^*2 (Selah)

⁸ Hear, my people, and I will testify against you. O Israel, if you would only listen to me.

⁹ Among you, there will be no strange god, And you will not bow down to a foreign god.

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

¹¹ But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.

¹² So I let them follow their stubborn hearts; They did what they thought was right.^*1

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

¹⁴ Their enemies I would quickly subdue; I would turn my hand against their adversaries.

¹⁵ Those who hate Jehovah will cringe in his presence, And their outcome^*1 will be forever.

¹⁶ But he will feed you^*1 with the finest^*2 wheat And satisfy you with honey from the rock.”