Psalms 81
81
(By Asaph for the music leader.#Psalm 81 leader: See the note at Psalm 8.)
God Makes Us Strong
1Be happy and shout to God
who makes us strong!
Shout praises to the God
of Jacob.
2Sing as you play tambourines
and the lovely sounding
stringed instruments.
3 #
Nu 10.10. Sound the trumpets and start
the New Moon Festival.#81.3 New Moon Festival: Celebrated on the first day of each new moon, which was the beginning of the month. But this may refer to either the New Year celebration or the Harvest Festival. “The moon is full” suggests a festival in the middle of the month.
We must also celebrate
when the moon is full.
4This is the law in Israel,
and it was given to us
by the God of Jacob.
5The descendants of Joseph
were told to obey it,
when God led them out
from the land of Egypt.
In a voice unknown to me,
I heard someone say:
6“I lifted the burden
from your shoulder
and took the heavy basket
from your hands.
7 #
Ex 17.7; Nu 20.13. When you were in trouble,
I rescued you,
and from the thunderclouds,
I answered your prayers.
Later I tested you
at Meribah Spring.#81.7 Meribah Spring: When the people of Israel complained to Moses about the need for water, God commanded Moses to strike a rock with his walking stick, and water came out. The place was then named Massah (“test”) and Meribah (“complaining”).
8“Listen, my people,
while I, the Lord,
correct you!
Israel, if you would only
pay attention to me!
9 #
Ex 20.2,3; Dt 5.6,7. Don't worship foreign gods
or bow down to gods
you know nothing about.
10I am the Lord your God.
I rescued you from Egypt.
Just ask, and I will give you
whatever you need.
11“But, my people, Israel,
you refused to listen,
and you would have nothing
to do with me!
12So I let you be stubborn
and keep on following
your own advice.
13“My people, Israel,
if only you would listen
and do as I say!
14I, the Lord, would quickly
defeat your enemies
with my mighty power.
15Everyone who hates me
would come crawling,
and that would be the end
of them.
16But I would feed you
with the finest bread
and with the best honey#81.16 the best honey: The Hebrew text has “honey from rocks,” referring to honey taken from beehives in holes or cracks in large rocks.
until you were full.”
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Psalms 81: CEV
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Psalm 81
81
Oh, That My People Would Listen to Me
To the choirmaster: according to #Ps. 8, title; 84, title The Gittith.#81:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term Of #Ps. 50, titleAsaph.
1 # [Deut. 32:43] Sing aloud to God our strength;
# See Ps. 66:1 shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2Raise a song; sound #Ex. 15:20 the tambourine,
#
Ps. 71:22
the sweet lyre with #Ps. 71:22the harp.
3Blow the trumpet at #Lev. 23:24; Num. 10:10; 29:1the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.
4For it is a statute for Israel,
a rule#81:4 Or just decree of the God of Jacob.
5He made it #Ps. 122:4; [Ps. 78:5] a decree in #Ps. 77:15; 78:67; 80:1 Joseph
when he #Ex. 11:4 went out over#81:5 Or against the land of Egypt.
#
Ps. 114:1 I hear a language #[Deut. 28:49; Jer. 5:15]I had not known:
6“I #Isa. 9:4; 10:27 relieved your#81:6 Hebrew his; also next line shoulder of #Ex. 1:11the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.
7In distress you #Ps. 50:15; [Ex. 2:23; 14:10] called, and I delivered you;
I #Ex. 19:19; See Ps. 18:11-14 answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I #Ex. 17:7; Num. 20:13tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
8 # See Ps. 50:7 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9There shall be no #Ps. 44:20; Isa. 43:12; [Ex. 20:3] strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a #Deut. 32:12foreign god.
10 #
Ex. 20:2 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
# [Ps. 37:3, 4] Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11“But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel #Ex. 32:1; Deut. 32:15, 18; Prov. 1:25, 30would not submit to me.
12So I #Job 8:4; [Acts 7:42; 14:16; Rom. 1:24, 26] gave them over to their #[Deut. 29:19] stubborn hearts,
to follow their own #Ps. 106:43; Jer. 7:24; Mic. 6:16counsels.
13 #
Deut. 5:29; 32:29; Isa. 48:18 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would #Deut. 5:33walk in my ways!
14I would soon subdue their enemies
and #Amos 1:8turn my hand against their foes.
15Those who hate the Lord would #Ps. 18:44cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
16But he would feed you#81:16 That is, Israel; Hebrew him with #Ps. 147:14; Deut. 32:14 the finest of the wheat,
and with #Deut. 32:13; [Job 29:6; Ezek. 16:19]honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
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