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Psalms 81

Berean Standard Bible

Section headings and translator notes come from the publisher; they are reading aids, distinct from the Bible text.

Sing for Joy to God Our Strength

Psalm subtitle:For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph.

Verse1Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.

Verse2Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.

Verse3Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.

Verse4For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

Verse5He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard an unfamiliar language:

Verse6“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.

Verse7You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

Verse8Hear, O My people, and I will warn you: O Israel, if only you would listen to Me!

Verse9There must be no strange god among you, nor shall you bow to a foreign god.

Verse10I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.

Verse11But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

Verse12So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

Verse13If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,

Verse14how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!

Verse15Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.

Verse16But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Translator notes (3)
  • Subtitle: Gittith is probably a musical or liturgical term; here and in Psalms 8 and 84.
  • Verse 5: Or in Joseph
  • Verse 7: Meribah means quarreling; see Exodus 17:7.
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