Psalm 81 ISV

For the Director: On the Gittith. By Asaph.

Celebrating and Remembering God

1Sing joyfully to God, our strength.

Raise a shout to the God of Jacob.

2Sing a song and play the tambourine,

the pleasant-sounding lyre along with the harp.

3Blow the ram’s horn when there is a New Moon,

when there is a full moon,

on our festival day,

4because it is a statute in Israel,

an ordinance by the God of Jacob,

5a decree that he prescribed for Joseph

when he went throughout the land of Egypt,

speaking a language I did not recognize.a

6I removed the burden from yourb shoulder;

yourc hands were freed of the burdensome basket.d

7In a time of need you called out and I delivered you;

I answered you from the dark thundercloud;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

Interlude

8Listen, My people and I will warn you.

Israel, if only you would obey me!

9You must neither have a foreign god over you

or worship a strange god.

10I am the LORD your God,

who brought you out of the land of Egypt,

open your mouth that I may fill it.

11Yet my people didn’t obey my voice;

Israel didn’t submit to me.

12So I allowed theme to continue in their stubbornness,

living by their own advice.

13If only my people would obey me,

if only Israel would walk in my ways!

14Then I would quickly subdue their enemies.

I would turn against their foes.

15Those who hate the LORD will cringe before him;

their punishment will be permanent.

16But I will feed Israelf with the finest wheat,

satisfying you with honey from the rock.

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Footnotes:
a 81:5 Lit. hear
b 81:6 Lit. his
c 81:6 Lit. his
d 81:6 Lit. hands let pass through the basket
e 81:12 Or it/ her
f 81:16 Lit. him

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