Psalm 81

A Call to Obedience

For the choir director: on the Gittith. Of Asaph.(A)

Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.(B)
Lift up a song—play the tambourine,
the melodious lyre, and the harp.(C)
Blow the horn on the day of our feasts[a][b]
during the new moon(D)
and during the full moon.
For this is a statute for Israel,
a judgment of the God of Jacob.(E)
He set it up as an ordinance for Joseph
when He went throughout[c] the land of Egypt.(F)

I heard an unfamiliar language:
“I relieved his shoulder from the burden;
his hands were freed from carrying the basket.(G)
You called out in distress, and I rescued you;
I answered you from the thundercloud.(H)
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.(I)Selah
Listen, My people, and I will admonish you.
Israel, if you would only listen to Me!(J)
There must not be a strange god among you;
you must not bow down to a foreign god.(K)
10 I am Yahweh your God,
who brought you up from the land of Egypt.(L)
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.(M)

11 “But My people did not listen to Me;
Israel did not obey Me.(N)
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own plans.(O)
13 If only My people would listen to Me
and Israel would follow My ways,(P)
14 I would quickly subdue their enemies
and turn My hand against their foes.”(Q)
15 Those who hate the Lord
would pretend submission to Him;(R)
their doom would last forever.(S)
16 But He would feed Israel[d] with the best wheat.
“I would satisfy you with honey from the rock.”(T)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 81:3 Lit feast
  2. Psalm 81:3 Either Passover or Tabernacles
  3. Psalm 81:5 LXX, Syr, Jer read out of
  4. Psalm 81:16 Lit him

Bible Gateway Recommends