Psalm 81:1-16

  • An exhortation to obey

    • Do not worship foreign gods (9)

    • ‘If only you would listen’ (13)

To the director; upon the Gitʹtith.* Of Aʹsaph.+ 81  Shout joyfully to God our strength.+ Shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.  2  Begin the music and take a tambourine,The melodious harp together with the stringed instrument.  3  Blow the horn on the new moon,+On the full moon, for the day of our festival.+  4  For it is a decree for Israel,A ruling of the God of Jacob.+  5  He established it as a reminder for Joseph+When He went out against the land of Egypt.+ I heard a voice* that I did not recognize:  6  “I lifted the burden from his shoulder;+His hands were freed from the basket.  7  In your distress you called, and I rescued you;+I answered you from the thundercloud.*+ I tested you at the waters of Merʹi·bah.*+ (Selah)  8  Hear, my people, and I will testify against you. O Israel, if you would only listen to me.+  9  Among you, there will be no strange god,And you will not bow down to a foreign god.+ 10  I, Jehovah, am your God,The one who brought you out of the land of Egypt.+ Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.+ 11  But my people did not listen to my voice;Israel would not submit to me.+ 12  So I let them follow their stubborn hearts;They did what they thought was right.*+ 13  If only my people would listen to me,+If only Israel would walk in my ways!+ 14  Their enemies I would quickly subdue;I would turn my hand against their adversaries.+ 15  Those who hate Jehovah will cringe in his presence,And their outcome* will be forever. 16  But he will feed you* with the finest* wheat+And satisfy you with honey from the rock.”+

Footnotes

Or “language.”
Meaning “Quarreling.”
Lit., “in the hidden place of thunder.”
Lit., “They walked in their counsels.”
Lit., “time.”
Lit., “him,” that is, God’s people.
Lit., “the fat of.”