PSALM 81
1For the lead player, on the gittith, for Asaph.
2Sing gladly to God our strength,
shout out to the God of Jacob.
3Lift your voices in song and beat the drum,
the lyre is sweet with the lute.
4Blast the ram’s horn on the new moon,
when the moon starts to wax, for our festival day.
5For it is an ordinance in Israel,
a rule of the God of Jacob.
6A decree He declared it for Israel
when He sallied forth against Egypt’s land—
a language I knew not, I heard.
7“I delivered his shoulder from the burden
his palms were loosed from the hod.
8From the straits you called and I set you free.
I answered You from thunder’s hiding place.
9I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
selah
Hear, O my people, that I may adjure you.
Israel, if You would but hear Me.
10There shall be among you no foreign god
and you shall not bow to an alien god.
11I am the LORD your God
Who brings you up from the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, that I may fill it.
12But My people did not heed My voice
and Israel wanted nothing of Me.
13And I let them follow their heart’s willfulness,
they went by their own counsels.
14If My people would but heed Me,
if Israel would go in My ways,
15in a moment I would humble their enemies,
and against their foes I would turn My hand.
16Those who hate the LORD would cringe before Him,
and their time of doom would be everlasting.
17And I would feed him the finest wheat,