Psalm 81 - Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition

God Makes Us Strong

(By Asaph for the music leader. )

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 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 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.”