Psalm 81
For the choir director; on the gittith; *Unknown musical term. by Asaph. 
  1 Sing joyfully to God, our strength.  
Shout happily to the God of Jacob.   
 2 Begin a psalm, and strike a tambourine.  
Play lyres and harps with their pleasant music.   
 3 Blow the ram’s horn on the day of the new moon,  
on the day of the full moon,  
on our festival days.   
 4 This is a law for Israel,  
a legal decision from the God of Jacob.   
 5 These are the instructions God set in place for Joseph  
when Joseph rose to power over Egypt.  
I heard a message I did not understand:   
 6 “I removed the burden from his shoulder.  
His hands were freed from the basket.   
 7 When you were in trouble, you called out ⌞to me⌟, and I rescued you.  
I was hidden in thunder, but I answered you.  
I tested your ⌞loyalty⌟ at the oasis of Meribah. 
Selah
    8 Listen, my people, and I will warn you.  
Israel, if you would only listen to me!   
 9 Never keep any strange god among you.  
Never worship a foreign god.   
 10 I am the Lord your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt.  
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.   
 11 “But my people did not listen to me.  
Israel wanted nothing to do with me.   
 12 So I let them go their own stubborn ways  
and follow their own advice.   
 13 If only my people would listen to me!  
If only Israel would follow me!   
 14 I would quickly defeat their enemies.  
I would turn my power against their foes.   
 15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe in front of him,  
and their time ⌞for punishment⌟ would last forever.   
 16 But I would feed Israel with the finest wheat  
and satisfy them with honey from a rock.”