Psalm 81

International Children’s Bible

A Song for a Holiday

For the director of music. By the gittith. A song of Asaph.

81 Sing for joy to God, our strength.
    Shout out loud to the God of Jacob.
²Begin the music. Play the tambourines.
    Play pleasant music on the harps and lyres.
³Blow the sheep’s horn at the time of the New Moon.
    Blow it when the moon is full, when our feast begins.
⁴This is the law for Israel.
    It is God’s command to the people of Jacob.
⁵He made this agreement with the people of Joseph
    when they went out of the land of Egypt.

I heard a language I did not know, saying:
⁶“I took the load off your shoulders.
    I let you put down your baskets.
⁷When you were in trouble, you called, and I saved you.
    I answered you with thunder.
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
⁸My people, listen. I am warning you.
    Israel, please listen to me!
⁹You must not have foreign gods among you.
    You must not worship any false god.
¹⁰I, the Lord, am your God.
    I brought you out of Egypt.
    Open your mouth, and I will feed you.

¹¹“But my people did not listen to me.
    Israel did not want me.
¹²So I let them go their stubborn way.
    They followed their own advice.
¹³I wish my people would listen to me.
    I wish Israel would live my way.
¹⁴Then I would quickly defeat their enemies.
    I would turn my hand against those who are against them.
¹⁵Those who hate the Lord would bow before him.
    Their punishment would continue forever.
¹⁶But I would give you the finest wheat.
    I would fill you with honey from the rocks.”