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A Song for a Holiday

For the director of music. By the gittith. A song of Asaph.

81 Sing for joy to God, our strength.
    Shout out loud to the God of Jacob.
Begin the music. Play the tambourines.
    Play pleasant music on the harps and lyres.
Blow the sheep’s horn at the time of the New Moon.
    Blow it when the moon is full, when our feast begins.
This is the law for Israel.
    It is God’s command to the people of Jacob.
He made this agreement with the people of Joseph
    when they went out of the land of Egypt.

I heard a language I did not know, saying:
“I took the load off your shoulders.
    I let you put down your baskets.
When you were in trouble, you called, and I saved you.
    I answered you with thunder.
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
My people, listen. I am warning you.
    Israel, please listen to me!
You must not have foreign gods among you.
    You must not worship any false god.
10 I, the Lord, am your God.
    I brought you out of Egypt.
    Open your mouth, and I will feed you.

11 “But my people did not listen to me.
    Israel did not want me.
12 So I let them go their stubborn way.
    They followed their own advice.
13 I wish my people would listen to me.
    I wish Israel would live my way.
14 Then I would quickly defeat their enemies.
    I would turn my hand against those who are against them.
15 Those who hate the Lord would bow before him.
    Their punishment would continue forever.
16 But I would give you the finest wheat.
    I would fill you with honey from the rocks.”

Psalm 81[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of Asaph.

Sing for joy to God our strength;
    shout aloud to the God of Jacob!(A)
Begin the music, strike the timbrel,(B)
    play the melodious harp(C) and lyre.(D)

Sound the ram’s horn(E) at the New Moon,(F)
    and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
this is a decree for Israel,
    an ordinance of the God of Jacob.(G)
When God went out against Egypt,(H)
    he established it as a statute for Joseph.

I heard an unknown voice say:(I)

“I removed the burden(J) from their shoulders;(K)
    their hands were set free from the basket.
In your distress you called(L) and I rescued you,
    I answered(M) you out of a thundercloud;
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah.[c](N)
Hear me, my people,(O) and I will warn you—
    if you would only listen to me, Israel!
You shall have no foreign god(P) among you;
    you shall not worship any god other than me.
10 I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of Egypt.(Q)
Open(R) wide your mouth and I will fill(S) it.

11 “But my people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.(T)
12 So I gave them over(U) to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.

13 “If my people would only listen to me,(V)
    if Israel would only follow my ways,
14 how quickly I would subdue(W) their enemies
    and turn my hand against(X) their foes!
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe(Y) before him,
    and their punishment would last forever.
16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;(Z)
    with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 81:1 In Hebrew texts 81:1-16 is numbered 81:2-17.
  2. Psalm 81:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 81:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.