Psalm 81 | Liturgical Calendar

1

O Sing merrily unto God our strength; *

make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.

2

Take the psalm, bring hither the timbrel, *

the merry harp with the lute.

3

Blow the trumpet at the new moon, *

even in the time appointed, and on our solemn feast day.

4

For this was made a statute for Israel *

and a law of the God of Jacob.

5

This he laid upon Joseph for a testimony, *

when he came out of the land of Egypt.

6

I eased his shoulder from the burden, *

and his hands were delivered from bearing the load.

7

You called upon me in troubles, and I delivered you, *

and I answered you in the thundercloud and tested you at the waters of strife.

8

Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you: *

O Israel, if you will hearken unto me,

9

There shall be no strange god among you, *

neither shall you worship any other god.

10

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; *

open your mouth wide, and I shall fill it.

11

But my people would not hear my voice, *

and Israel would not obey me.

12

So I gave them up to the stubbornness of their hearts, *

and let them follow their own imaginations.

13

Oh, that my people would have hearkened unto me, *

that Israel had walked in my ways.

14

I would soon have put down their enemies *

and turned my hand against their adversaries.

15

The haters of the Lord would humble themselves before him, *

and their time of punishment would endure for ever.

16

But Israel would I feed with the finest wheat-flour, *

and with honey out of the stony rock would I satisfy him.”