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A Song for a Holiday

For the director of music. By the gittith. A psalm of Asaph.

81 Sing for joy to God, our strength;
    shout out loud to the God of Jacob.
Begin the music. Play the tambourines.
    Play pleasant music on the harps and lyres.
Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,
    when the moon is full, when our feast begins.
This is the law for Israel;
    it is the command of the God of Jacob.
He gave this rule to the people of Joseph
    when they went out of the land of Egypt.

I heard a language I did not know, saying:
“I took the load off their shoulders;
    I let them put down their baskets.
When you were in trouble, you called, and I saved you.
    I answered you with thunder.
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
My people, listen. I am warning you.
    Israel, please listen to me!
You must not have foreign gods;
    you must not worship any false god.
10 I, the Lord, am your God,
    who brought you out of Egypt.
    Open your mouth and I will feed you.

11 “But my people did not listen to me;
    Israel did not want me.
12 So I let them go their stubborn way
    and follow their own advice.
13 I wish my people would listen to me;
    I wish Israel would live my way.
14 Then I would quickly defeat their enemies
    and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the Lord would bow before him.
    Their punishment would continue forever.
16 But I would give you the finest wheat
    and fill you with honey from the rocks.”

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