Psalms 81

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 [For the choirmaster On the . . . of Gath Of Asaph] Sing for joy to God our strength, shout in triumph tothe God of Jacob.	1 For the leader; "upon the gittith." Of Asaph.
2 Strike up the music, beat the tambourine, play the melodious harp and the lyre;	2 Sing joyfully to God our strength; shout in triumph to the God of Jacob!
3 blow the trumpet for the new month, for the ful moon, for our feast day!	3 Take up a melody, sound the timbrel, the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.
4 For Israel has this statute, a decision of the God of Jacob,	4 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our solemn feast.
5 a decree he imposed on Joseph, when he went to war against Egypt. I heard a voice unknown to me,	5 For this is a law in Israel, an edict of the God of Jacob,
6 'I freed his shoulder from the burden, his hands were able to lay aside the labourer's basket.	6 Who made it a decree for Joseph when he came out of the land of Egypt. II I hear a new oracle:
7 You cried out in your distress, so I rescued you. 'Hidden in the storm, I answered you, I tested you atthe waters of Meribah.Pause	7 "I relieved their shoulders of the burden; their hands put down the basket.
8 Listen, my people, while I give you warning; Israel, if only you would listen to me!	8 In distress you called and I rescued you; unseen, I spoke to you in thunder; At the waters of Meribah I tested you and said: Selah
9 'You shal have no strange gods, shall worship no alien god.	9 'Listen, my people, I give you warning! If only you will obey me, Israel!
10 I, Yahweh, am your God, who brought you here from Egypt, you have only to open your mouth forme to fil it.	10 There must be no foreign god among you; you must not worship an alien god.
11 'My people would not listen to me, Israel would have none of me.	11 I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open wide your mouth that I may fill it.'
12 So I left them to their stubborn selves, to fol ow their own devices.	12 But my people did not listen to my words; Israel did not obey me.
13 'If only my people would listen to me, if only Israel would walk in my ways,	13 So I gave them over to hardness of heart; they followed their own designs.
14 at one stroke I would subdue their enemies, turn my hand against their opponents.	14 But even now if my people would listen, if Israel would walk in my paths,
15 'Those who hate Yahweh would woo his favour, though their doom was sealed for ever,	15 In a moment I would subdue their foes, against their enemies unleash my hand.
16 while I would feed him on pure wheat, would give you your fil of honey from the rock.'	16 Those who hate the LORD would tremble, their doom sealed forever.
	17 But Israel I would feed with the finest wheat, satisfy them with honey from the rock."