For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. By Asaph.

81:1 Sing aloud to God, our strength!

Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob!

81:2 Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine,

the pleasant lyre with the harp.

81:3 Blow the trumpet at the New Moon,

at the full moon, on our feast day.

81:4 For it is a statute for Israel,

an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

81:5 He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony,

when he went out over the land of Egypt,

I heard a language that I didn't know.

81:6 "I removed his shoulder from the burden.

His hands were freed from the basket.

81:7 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.

81:8 "Hear, my people, and I will testify to you,

Israel, if you would listen to me!

81:9 There shall be no strange god in you,

neither shall you worship any foreign god.

81:10 I am Yahweh, your God,

who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

81:11 But my people didn't listen to my voice.

Israel desired none of me.

81:12 So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts,

that they might walk in their own counsels.

81:13 Oh that my people would listen to me,

that Israel would walk in my ways!

81:14 I would soon subdue their enemies,

and turn my hand against their adversaries.

81:15 The haters of Yahweh would cringe before him,

and their punishment would last forever.

81:16 But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat.

I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock."