PSALM 81

NEW KING JAMES VERSION
​
1 Sing aloud to God our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.
 
2 Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute.
 
3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,
At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.
4 For this is a statute for Israel,
A law of the God of Jacob.
 
5 This 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.
 
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
 
8 “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you!
O Israel, if you will listen to Me!
 
9 There shall be no foreign god among you;
Nor shall you worship any foreign god.
 
10 I 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.
 
12 So 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!
 
14 I would soon subdue their enemies,
And turn My hand against their adversaries.
 
15 The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him,
But their fate would endure forever.
 
16 He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat;
And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you.”

CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION
​
1 Be happy and shout to God
    who makes us strong!
    Shout praises to the God
    of Jacob.
2 Sing as you play tambourines
    and the lovely sounding
    stringed instruments.
3 Sound the trumpets and start
    the New Moon Festival.
    We must also celebrate
    when the moon is full.
4 This is the law in Israel,
    and it was given to us
    by the God of Jacob.
5 The descendants of Joseph
    were told to obey it,
    when God led them out
    from the land of Egypt.
 
In a language unknown to me,
    I heard someone say:
6 “I lifted the burden
    from your shoulder
    and took the heavy basket
    from your hands.
7 When you were in trouble,
    I rescued you,
    and from the thunderclouds,
    I answered your prayers.
    Later I tested you
    at Meribah Spring.
 
8 “Listen, my people,
while I, the Lord,
    correct you!
    Israel, if you would only
    pay attention to me!
9 Don’t worship foreign gods
    or bow down to gods
    you know nothing about.
10 I 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!
12 So 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!
14 I, the Lord, would quickly
defeat your enemies
    with my mighty power.
15 Everyone who hates me
    would come crawling,
    and that would be the end
    of them.
16 But I would feed you
    with the finest bread
    and with the best honey
    until you were full.”