Psalms 81

Psalm 81

God’s Goodness and Israel’s Waywardness.

1Sing aloud to God our strength; Shout for joy to the God of Jacob (Israel).

2Raise a song, sound the timbrel, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.

3Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, At the full moon, on our feast day.

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

5He established it for a testimony in Joseph When He went throughout the land of Egypt. I heard the language [of One whom] I did not know, saying,

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

7You called in [the time of] trouble and I rescued you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

8Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you— O Israel, if you would listen to Me!

9Let there be no strange god among you, Nor shall you worship any foreign god.

10I am the Lord your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

11“But My people would not listen to My voice, And Israel did not [consent to] obey Me.

12So I gave them up to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in [the path of] their own counsel.

13Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!

14Then I would quickly subdue and humble their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries;

15Those who hate the Lord would pretend obedience to Him and cringe before Him, And their time of punishment would be forever.

16But I would feed Israel with the finest of the wheat; And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”