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]!

To the Overseer. — 'On the Gittith.' By Asaph. Cry aloud to God our strength, Shout 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).

Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, A pleasant harp with psaltery.

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 in the month a trumpet, In the new moon, at the day of our festival,

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

For a statute to Israel it [is], An ordinance 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,

A testimony on Joseph He hath placed it, In his going forth over the land of Egypt. A lip, I have not known — I hear.

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].

From the burden his shoulder I turned aside, His hands from the basket pass over.

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 distress thou hast called and I deliver thee, I answer thee in the secret place of thunder, I try thee by 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]!

Hear, O My people, and I testify to thee, O Israel, if thou dost hearken to me:

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

There is not in thee a strange god, And thou bowest not thyself to a strange 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] Jehovah thy God, Who bringeth thee up out of the land of Egypt. Enlarge thy mouth, and I fill it.

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

But, My people hearkened not to My voice, And Israel hath not consented to Me.

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

And I send them away in the enmity of their heart, They walk in their own counsels.

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

O that My people were hearkening to Me, Israel in My ways would walk.

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

As a little thing their enemies I cause to bow, And against their adversaries I turn back My hand,

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

Those hating Jehovah feign obedience to Him, But their time is — to the age.

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

He causeth him to eat of the fat of wheat, And [with] honey from a rock I satisfy thee!