Psalms 81

1Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.

2Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.

3Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.

4For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

5He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard an unfamiliar language:

6“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.

7You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

8Hear, O My people, and I will warn you: O Israel, if only you would listen to Me!

9There must be no strange god among you, nor shall you bow to a foreign god.

10I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.

11But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

12So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

13If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,

14how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!

15Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.

16But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”