Psalm 81

By Asaph

Sing out to the god who is our strength
Sing out to the god of Jacob.
Sing a song, bring the tambourine,
The sweet-sounding harp and psaltery.
Blow the ram’s horn at the new moon,
And again when the moon is full,
Upon the day of our festival.
This is a statute for Israel,
An ordinance of Jacob’s god,
A decree he ordained for Joseph
When he went out against Egypt.

I heard a language I did not know:
“I took the burden off your shoulders
And freed your hands from the brick baskets.
In your troubles you called to me.
I answered and delivered you
From a thundercloud; I tested you
At the waters of Meribah.”

“Hear, O people, my admonition;
Heed my warning, O Israel.
If only you will listen to me!
There shall be no new god among you,
Nor shall you worship a foreign god,
For I am Jehovah, your god,
Who ushered you out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth; I will fill it.”

“But my people would not listen to me,
And Israel would not consent to me.
So I left them to their obstinate hearts,
To  conduct their lives by their own counsel.
If only my people would listen to me,
If only Israel would follow my ways,
How quickly would I thwart their enemies
And deploy my power against their foes.
Those who hate Jehovah cower before him
But their punishment will last forever.
You, though, I would feed with the finest wheat
And honey from the rock, till you be full.”