Psalms 81

1 Shout for joy to God our defender; sing praise to the God of Jacob!
2 Start the music and beat the tambourines; play pleasant music on the harps and the lyres.
3 Blow the trumpet for the festival, 1 when the moon is new and when the moon is full.
4 This is the law in Israel, an order from the God of Jacob.
5 He gave it to the people of Israel when he attacked the land of Egypt. I hear an unknown voice saying,
6 "I took the burdens off your backs; I let you put down your loads of bricks.
7 When you were in trouble, you called to me, and I saved you. 2 From my hiding place in the storm, I answered you. I put you to the test at the springs of Meribah.
8 Listen, my people, to my warning; Israel, how I wish you would listen to me!
9 You must never worship another god. 3
10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Open your mouth, and I will feed you.
11 "But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not obey me.
12 So I let them go their stubborn ways and do whatever they wanted.
13 How I wish my people would listen to me; how I wish they would obey me!
14 I would quickly defeat their enemies and conquer all their foes.
15 Those who hate me would bow in fear before me; their punishment would last forever.
16 But I would feed you with the finest wheat and satisfy you with wild honey."

Cross References 3

  • 1. 81.3Numbers 10.10.
  • 2. 81.7Exodus 17.7;Numbers 20.13.
  • 3. 81.9Exodus 20.2, 3;Deuteronomy 5.6, 7.

Psalms 81 Commentaries

Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.