Psalms 81

1 Sing [songs] to praise God, who enables us to be strong [when we fight our enemies]; shout joyfully to God, whom we (descendants of Jacob/Israeli people) [worship]!

For the music director. On the gittith. A psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

2 Start [playing] the music, and beat the tambourines, and play nice music on the harps and (lyres/other stringed instruments).

Start the song! Play the tambourine, sweet-sounding lyre, and harp.

3 Blow the trumpets [during the festival to celebrate] each new moon and each time the moon is full and during our [other] festivals.

Blow the trumpet at the new moon, and at full moon, to begin our festivals,

4 [Do that] because that is a law for [us] Israeli [people]; God commanded it for us descendants of Jacob.

for this is a rule for Israel, a regulation of the God of Jacob.

5 He commanded us Israeli [people to obey it] when he punished [the people of] Egypt. I heard someone [MTY] whose voice I did not recognize, saying,

God made this statute for Joseph when he opposed the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I didn't know, saying:

6 “[After the rulers of Egypt forced you Israelis to work as slaves], I took those [heavy] burdens off your backs, and I enabled you to lay down those [heavy] baskets [of bricks that you were carrying].

“I took the load from your shoulders; I freed your hands from carrying heavy baskets.

7 When you were [greatly] distressed, you called [out to me], and I rescued you; I answered you out of a thundercloud. [Later] I tested [whether you would trust me to give you] water [when you were in the desert] at Meribah.

In your suffering you cried out to me, and I saved you. I answered you from the thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

8 [You who are] my people, listen while I warn you! I wish that you Israeli [people] would pay attention to what I [say to you]!

My people, listen to my warnings! Israel, please listen to me!

9 You must not have any idols of other gods among you; you must never bow to worship any of them!

There must not be a strange god among you; you must never bow down to foreign gods and worship them.

10 I am Yahweh, your God; It was [not any of those other gods] who brought you out of Egypt, I am the one who did it! [So] ask me what you want me to do for you [MTY], and I will do it.

I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

11 But my people would not listen to me [SYN]; they would not obey me.

But my people didn't listen to me. Israel didn't want anything to do with me.

12 So even though they were very stubborn, I allowed them to do whatever they wanted to do.

So I sent them away to follow their stubborn thinking, living as they chose.

13 I wish that my people would listen to me, that the Israeli [people] would behave as I want them to do.

If only my people would listen to me; if only Israel would follow my ways!

14 [If they did that], I would quickly defeat their enemies; I would strike/punish [all of] them [DOU].

It wouldn't take me long to conquer their enemies, to strike down their foes.

15 [Then all] those who hate me would (cringe before/bow down to) me, and [then I] would punish them [MTY] forever.

Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, forever doomed.

16 [But] I would give you [Israelis] very good wheat/grain, and I would fill your stomachs with wild honey.”

But I would feed you the best wheat and satisfy you with honey from the rock.”