Psalms 81

1 Sing [aloud, joyfully] for joy to God [our strength, the God of Jacob] our strength; make a joyful [glad] noise [shout for joy, cry aloud] to the God [of Jacob, whom we worship] of Jacob. word study 2 Lift up [raise, start playing] a song [psalm, melody], strike [beat, play on] the tambourine [timbrel, percussion instrument], play [bring forth, produce sound on] the sweet-sounding [pleasant, joyful] harp [lyre, stringed instrument] and [together with] lyre [psaltery, musical instrument]. word study 3 Sound [blow, proclaim] the ram’s horn [trumpet, a signal to gather] at the New Moon [the beginning of a new lunar cycle], and at the full moon [the time appointed, the complete fullness] on the day of our Feast [solemn feast day, a holy festival]. word study 4 For this [is a divine decree, a law] is a statute [rule, ordinance] for Israel [the chosen people, descendants of Jacob], an ordinance [law, regulation] of the God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] of Jacob [the patriarch, father of the Israelites]. word study 5 He ordained [established, appointed] it as a testimony [a witness, a covenant] for Joseph [the son of Jacob, a key figure] when he went out [traveled, wandered] over the land of Egypt [a foreign and unfamiliar place], where I heard [perceived, understood] an unfamiliar [unknown, strange] language [a lip, a voice I didn’t know]: word study 6 “I relieved [removed, took away] his shoulder [the weight-bearing part of the body] of the burden [heavy load, oppression]; his hands [the instruments of labor] were freed [delivered, released] from the basket [pots, heavy containers]. word study 7 You called out [in trouble, with a cry for help] in distress [affliction, suffering], and I rescued [delivered, saved] you; I answered [spoke to, responded to] you from the cloud [secret place] of thunder [thundercloud]; I tested [proved, tried] you at the waters [place] of Meribah [mercy, contention]. Selah word study 8 Hear [listen carefully, give attention], O My people [those who belong to Me], and I will warn [testify, give evidence] you: O Israel [God’s chosen nation], if only you would listen [hearken, obey] to Me [your Lord, your God]! word study 9 There must be no [foreign, strange] strange god among you, nor shall you [worship, bow down to] bow to a foreign [alien] god. word study 10 I am the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Creator], who brought you up out of Egypt [the land of bondage and oppression]. Open wide [enlarge, stretch out] your mouth, and I will fill [satisfy, provide for] it. word study 11 But My people [who are called by My name] would not listen [hearken, obey] to Me, and Israel [God’s chosen nation] would not obey [consent to, heed] Me. word study 12 So I gave them up [to their own desires, letting them go] to their stubborn [hardened, unyielding] hearts to follow [walk in, live by] their own devices [counsels, evil purposes]. word study 13 If only [oh that, I wish] My people [Israel, My chosen ones] would listen [hearken, give ear] to Me, if Israel [the nation, God’s chosen] would follow [walk, obey] My ways [counsel, paths, divine guidance], word study 14 how soon [quickly, without delay] I would subdue [overcome, bring into submission] their enemies [adversaries, foes] and turn [stretch out, extend] My hand [power, authority] against [toward, in opposition to] their foes [enemies, adversaries]! word study 15 Those who hate [are enemies of, oppose] the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] would feign [pretend, cringe in] obedience [submission, humility], and their doom [punishment, time of trouble] would last [endure, be prolonged] forever [for all eternity, to the age]. word study 16 But I would feed you the finest [best, fat] wheat; with honey [pure] from the rock I would satisfy [fill to the full, with abundance] you.” word study