Psalms 81

An Appeal for Israel’s Repentance

To the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm of Asaph.¹Sing aloud to God our strength; Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob. ²Raise a song and strike the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the lute. ³Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, At the full moon, on our solemn feast day. ⁴For this is a statute for Israel, A law of the God of Jacob. ⁵This He established in Joseph as a testimony, When He went throughout the land of Egypt, Where I heard a language I did not understand. ⁶“I removed his shoulder from the burden; His hands were freed from the baskets. ⁷You 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 ⁸“Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me! ⁹There shall be no foreign god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god. ¹⁰I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. ¹¹“But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me. ¹²So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels. ¹³“Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! ¹⁴I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn My hand against their adversaries. ¹⁵The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him, But their fate would endure forever. ¹⁶He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you.”