Psalms 81

1 For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. By Asaph. Sing aloud to God, our strength! Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob!

Sing [songs] to praise God, who enables us to be strong [when we fight our enemies]; shout joyfully to God, whom we (descendants of Jacob/Israeli people) [worship]!

2 Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.

Start [playing] the music, and beat the tambourines, and play nice music on the harps and (lyres/other stringed instruments).

3 Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.

Blow the trumpets [during the festival to celebrate] each new moon and each time the moon is full and during our [other] festivals.

4 For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

[Do that] because that is a law for [us] Israeli [people]; God commanded it for us descendants of Jacob.

5 He appointed it in Joseph for a covenant, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I did not know.

He commanded us Israeli [people to obey it] when he punished [the people of] Egypt. I heard someone [MTY] whose voice I did not recognize, saying,

6 “I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket.

“[After the rulers of Egypt forced you Israelis to work as slaves], I took those [heavy] burdens off your backs, and I enabled you to lay down those [heavy] baskets [of bricks that you were carrying].

7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” (Selah)

When you were [greatly] distressed, you called [out to me], and I rescued you; I answered you out of a thundercloud. [Later] I tested [whether you would trust me to give you] water [when you were in the desert] at Meribah.

8 “Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me!

[You who are] my people, listen while I warn you! I wish that you Israeli [people] would pay attention to what I [say to you]!

9 There shall be no strange god in you, neither shall you worship any foreign god.

You must not have any idols of other gods among you; you must never bow to worship any of them!

10 I am the LORD, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

I am Yahweh, your God; It was [not any of those other gods] who brought you out of Egypt, I am the one who did it! [So] ask me what you want me to do for you [MTY], and I will do it.

11 But my people did not listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.

But my people would not listen to me [SYN]; they would not obey me.

12 So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own counsels.

So even though they were very stubborn, I allowed them to do whatever they wanted to do.

13 Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

I wish that my people would listen to me, that the Israeli [people] would behave as I want them to do.

14 I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries.

[If they did that], I would quickly defeat their enemies; I would strike/punish [all of] them [DOU].

15 The haters of the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.

[Then all] those who hate me would (cringe before/bow down to) me, and [then I] would punish them [MTY] forever.

16 But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat. I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”

[But] I would give you [Israelis] very good wheat/grain, and I would fill your stomachs with wild honey.”