Psalms 81

God’s Goodness and Israel’s Waywardness.

For the music director; Or according toon the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph.

11Sing for joy to God our 2strength; Shout 3joyfully to the 4God of Jacob.2Raise a song, strike 5the tambourine, The sweet sounding 6lyre with the 7harp.3Blow the trumpet at the 8new moon, At the full moon, on our 9feast day.4For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob.5He established it as a testimony in Joseph When he 1011went throughout the land of Egypt. I heard a 12language I did not know:

6“I 1314relieved his shoulder of the burden, His hands were freed from the 15basket.7You 16called in trouble and I rescued you; I 17answered you in the hiding place of thunder; I put you to the test at the 18waters of Meribah. Selah819Hear, My people, and I will admonish you; Israel, if you 20would listen to Me!9There shall be no 21strange god among you; Nor shall you worship a foreign god.1022I, the Lord, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; 23Open your mouth wide and I will 24fill it.

11“But My people 25did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not 26obey Me.12So I 27gave 28them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk by their own plans.13Oh that My people 29would listen to Me, That Israel would 30walk in My ways!14I would quickly 31subdue their enemies And 32turn My hand against their adversaries.1533Those who hate the Lord would 34pretend to obey Him, And their time of punishment would be forever.1635But I would feed you with the 3637finest of the wheat, And with 38honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”