1 Psalm 81 Oh that My People Would Listen to Me For the choir director. According to the Gittith. Of Asaph.Sing for joy to God our strength;Make a loud shout to the God of Jacob.
2 Lift up a song of praise, strike the tambourine,The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,At the full moon, on our feast day.
4 For it is a statute for Israel,A judgment of the God of Jacob.
5 He established it for a testimony in JosephWhen he went forth over the land of Egypt.I heard a language that I did not know:
6 ¶“I 81:6Lit removed his shoulder from relieved his shoulder of the burden,His hands were freed from the 81:6Or brick load basket.
7 “You called in distress and I rescued you;I answered you in the hiding place of thunder;I tested you at the waters of Meribah. 81:7Selah may mean Pause, Crescendo, Musical Interlude Selah.
8 “Hear, O My people, and I will testify against you;O Israel, if you would listen to Me!
9 “Let there be no strange god among you;And you shall not worship a foreign god.
10 “I am Yahweh your God,Who brought you up from the land of Egypt;Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
11 ¶“But My people did not listen to My voice,And Israel was not willingto obeyMe.
12 “So I released 81:12Lit him them over to the stubbornness of their heart,That they would walk in their own devices.
13 “Oh that My people would listen to Me,That Israel would walk in My ways!
14 “I would quickly subdue their enemiesAnd I would turn My hand against their adversaries.
15 “Those who hate Yahweh would cower before Him,And their timeof punishmentwould be forever.
16 “ 81:16Lit He would feed him But I would feed you with the 81:16Lit fat finest of the wheat,And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”