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 chief musician; set to the Gittith style. A psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; shout out 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).

Sing a song and play the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the 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 on the day of the new moon, on the day of the full moon, when our feast day begins.

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

For it is a statute for Israel, a decree given by 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,

He issued it as a regulation in Joseph when he went against the land of Egypt, where I heard a voice that I did not recognize:

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 removed the burden from his shoulder; his hands were freed from holding the basket.

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 distress you called out, and I helped you; I answered you from a dark 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]!

Listen, my people, for I will warn you, Israel, if you would only 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 be no foreign god among you; you must not worship any foreign god.

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 Yahweh 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 did not listen to my words; Israel did not obey me.

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

So I gave them over to their own stubborn way so that they might do what seemed right to them.

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

Oh, that my people would listen to me; oh, that my people would walk in my paths.

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

Then I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their oppressors.

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

May those who hate Yahweh cringe in fear before him! May they be humiliated forever.

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

I would feed Israel with the finest wheat; I would satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”