Psalms 81

1 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]!

To the chief music-maker; put to the Gittith. Of Asaph. Make a song to God our strength: make a glad cry to the God of Jacob.

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

Take up the melody, playing on an instrument of music, even on corded instruments.

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

Let the horn be sounded in the time of the new moon, at the full moon, on our holy feast-day:

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

For this is a rule for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

5 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,

He gave it to Joseph as a witness, when he went out over the land of Egypt; then the words of a strange tongue were sounding in my ears.

6 “[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].

I took the weight from his back; his hands were made free from the baskets.

7 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.

You gave a cry in your trouble, and I made you free; I gave you an answer in the secret place of the thunder; I put you to the test at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

8 [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]!

Give ear, O my people, and I will give you my word, O Israel, if you will only do as I say!

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

There is to be no strange god among you; you are not to give worship to any other god.

10 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.

I am the Lord your God, who took you up from the land of Egypt: let your mouth be open wide, so that I may give you food.

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

But my people did not give ear to my voice; Israel would have nothing to do with me.

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

So I gave them up to the desires of their hearts; that they might go after their evil purposes.

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

If only my people would give ear to me, walking in my ways!

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

I would quickly overcome their haters: my hand would be turned against those who make war on them.

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

The haters of the Lord would be broken, and their destruction would be eternal.

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

I would give them the best grain for food; you would be full of honey from the rock.