Psalms 81

1 For the leader. On the gittith. Of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength, shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

2 Raise a song, sound the timbrel, sweet lyre and harp.

3 On the new moon blow the horn, at the full moon, the day of our festival.

4 For this is a statute for Israel, a ruling of the God of Jacob,

5 a witness he set up in Joseph, when he marched against Egypt’s land, where he heard an unknown voice say:

6 ‘I removed from your shoulder the burden, and freed your hands from the basket.

7 At your call of distress I delivered you, from the thundercloud I answered you. At Meribah’s waters I tested you. (Selah)

8 ‘Listen, my people, to my warning, O Israel, if you would but listen!

9 There must not be a strange god among you, you must bow to no foreign god.

10 I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt. Open your mouth, that I fill it.

11 ‘But my people did not listen to my voice, Israel would have none of me.

12 So to their own hard hearts I left them, to follow their own devices.

13 O that my people would listen, that Israel would walk in my ways.

14 Soon would I humble their enemies, and turn my hand on their foes.

15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him in everlasting terror.

16 But you would I feed with the richest wheat, and with honey from the rock to your heart’s desire.’