| 81:1 |
Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! |
| 81:2 |
Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre. |
| 81:3 |
Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast; |
| 81:4 |
this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. |
| 81:5 |
He established it as a statute for Joseph when he went out against Egypt, where we heard a language we did not understand. |
| 81:6 |
He says, "I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket. |
| 81:7 |
In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah |
| 81:8 |
"Hear, O my people, and I will warn you--if you would but listen to me, O Israel! |
| 81:9 |
You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god. |
| 81:10 |
I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. |
| 81:11 |
"But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. |
| 81:12 |
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. |
| 81:13 |
"If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, |
| 81:14 |
how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! |
| 81:15 |
Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. |
| 81:16 |
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." |
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