Psalm 81

For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. By Asaph.

Verse 1Sing aloud to God, our strength!

Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob!

Verse 2Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine,

the pleasant lyre with the harp.

Verse 3Blow the trumpet at the New Moon,

at the full moon, on our feast day.

Verse 4For it is a statute for Israel,

an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

Verse 5He appointed it in Joseph for a covenant,

when he went out over the land of Egypt,

I heard a language that I didn’t know.

Verse 6“I removed his shoulder from the burden.

His hands were freed from the basket.

Verse 7You called in trouble, and I delivered you.

I answered you in the secret place of thunder.

I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” Selah.

Verse 8“Hear, my people, and I will testify to you,

Israel, if you would listen to me!

Verse 9There shall be no strange god in you,

neither shall you worship any foreign god.

Verse 10I am the LORD, your God,

who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Verse 11But my people didn’t listen to my voice.

Israel desired none of me.

Verse 12So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts,

that they might walk in their own counsels.

Verse 13Oh that my people would listen to me,

that Israel would walk in my ways!

Verse 14I would soon subdue their enemies,

and turn my hand against their adversaries.

Verse 15The haters of the LORD would cringe before him,

and their punishment would last forever.

Verse 16But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat.

I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”