Psalm 81

1. (0) For the Leader. On the gittit. By Asaf:

2. (1) Sing for joy to God our strength! 2 Shout to the God of Ya‘akov!

3. (2) Start the music! Beat the drum! 3 Play the sweet lyre and the lute!

4. (3) Sound the shofar at Rosh-Hodesh 4 and at full moon for the pilgrim feast,

5. (4) because this is a law for Isra’el, 5 a ruling of the God of Ya‘akov.

6. (5) He placed it as a testimony in Y’hosef 6 when he went out against the land of Egypt. 6 I heard an unfamiliar voice say,

7. (6) “I lifted the load from his shoulder; 7 his hands were freed from the [laborer’s] basket.

8. (7) You called out when you were in trouble, 8 and I rescued you; 8 I answered you from the thundercloud; 8 I tested you at the M’rivah Spring [by saying,] (Selah)

9. (8) “‘Hear, my people, while I give you warning! 9 Isra’el, if you would only listen to me!

10. (9) There is not to be with you any foreign god; 10 you are not to worship an alien god.

11. (10) I am Adonai your God, 11 who brought you up from the land of Egypt. 11 Open your mouth, and I will fill it.’

12. (11) “But my people did not listen to my voice; 12 Isra’el would have none of me.

13. (12) So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, 13 to live by their own plans.

14. (13) How I wish my people would listen to me, 14 that Isra’el would live by my ways!

15. (14) I would quickly subdue their enemies 15 and turn my hand against their foes.

16. (15) Those who hate Adonai would cringe before him, 16 while [Isra’el’s] time would last forever.

17. (16) They would be fed with the finest wheat, 17 and I would satisfy you with honey from the rocks.”