81:1  

For the director of music. According to gittith. Of Asaph.

81:2  Begin the music, strike the tambourine,
play the melodious harp and lyre.

81:3  Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon,
and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast;

81:4  this is a decree for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

81:5  He established it as a statute for Joseph
when he went out against Egypt,
where we heard a language we did not understand.

81:6  He says, "I removed the burden from their shoulders;
their hands were set free from the basket.

81:7  In your distress you called and I rescued you,
I answered you out of a thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Selah

81:8  "Hear, O my people, and I will warn you—
if you would but listen to me, O Israel!

81:9  You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not bow down to an alien god.

81:10  I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

81:11  "But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.

81:12  So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.

81:13  "If my people would but listen to me,
if Israel would follow my ways,

81:14  how quickly would I subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!

81:15  Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him,
and their punishment would last forever.

81:16  But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."