歌颂上帝的恩惠

亚萨的诗,交给乐长,用迦特乐器。

81 要歌颂赐我们力量的上帝,
向雅各的上帝欢呼。
要唱诗,击鼓,弹起琴瑟。
要在我们过节的朔日和望日[a]吹响号角。
这是以色列的律例,
是雅各的上帝所定的法令。
上帝攻击埃及的时候,
为约瑟立下此法度。
我在那里听见陌生的声音说:
“我卸下了你肩上的重担,
使你的双手不再做苦工,
你在苦难中向我呼求,
我就拯救了你,
从雷声隆隆的密云中应允了你。
我在米利巴泉边考验你。(细拉)
我的子民啊,
要听我的警告。
以色列人啊,
但愿你们听从我的话。
你们断不可供奉别的神明,
也不可向外族的神明下拜,
10 我是你们的上帝耶和华,
曾把你们带出埃及。
张开你们的口吧,
我必使你们饱足。
11 我的子民却不肯听我的话,
以色列不愿意顺从我。
12 因此我就任凭他们顽固不化,
为所欲为。
13 但愿我的子民肯听从我,
以色列人肯遵行我的道。
14 那时,我必迅速制服他们的敌人,
伸手攻击他们的仇敌。
15 憎恶我的人要在我面前屈膝投降,永远沉沦。
16 我要以上好的麦子供养我的子民,
让他们饱享磐石间的蜂蜜。”

Footnotes

  1. 81:3 朔日和望日”即每月的初一和十五。

81 (For the one directing. On the gittis. Of Asaph.) Sing with joy unto Elohim uzeinu (our strength); make a joyful noise unto Elohei Ya’akov.

(3) Begin a song, and bring hither the tambourine, the pleasant kinnor (harp) with the nevel (lyre).

(4) Blow the shofar at Rosh Chodesh, at the full moon, on Yom Chageinu.

(5) For this was a chok for Yisroel, and a mishpat of the Elohei Ya’akov.

(6) This He ordained in Yosef for an edut, when He went out over Eretz Mitzra- yim; where a language of one not known did I hear.

(7) I removed his shekhem (shoulder) from the burden; his hands were delivered from the basket.

(8) In tzoros thou calledst, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the seter ra’am (secret place of thunder); I tested thee at the waters of Merivah. Selah.

(9) Shema, O My people, and I will admonish thee; O Yisroel, if thou wilt pay heed unto Me;

(10) There shall no el zar (strange, foreign g-d) be among thee; neither shalt thou worship any el nechar (foreign g-d).

10 (11) I am Hashem Eloheicha Who brought thee out of Eretz Mitzrayim; open thy mouth wide, I will fill it.

11 (12) But My people would not pay heed to My voice; and Yisroel would have none of Me.

12 (13) So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ sherirut (stubbornness); and they walked in their own mo’atzot (counsels).

13 (14) Oh that My people had paid heed unto Me, and Yisroel had walked in My ways!

14 (15) I should soon have subdued their oyevim and turned My Yad (hand, power) against their adversaries.

15 (16) The haters of Hashem should have cringed before Him; their et (time, fate, punishment) endures l’olam.

16 (17) He would have fed them also with the finest of the chittah (wheat); and with devash (honey) from the Tzur would I have satisfied thee.

An Appeal for Israel’s Repentance

To the Chief Musician. (A)On[a] an instrument of Gath. A Psalm of Asaph.

81 Sing aloud to God our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.
Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute.

Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,
At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.
For (B)this is a statute for Israel,
A law of the God of Jacob.
This He established in Joseph as a testimony,
When He went throughout the land of Egypt,
(C)Where I heard a language I did not understand.

“I removed his shoulder from the burden;
His hands were freed from the baskets.
(D)You called in trouble, and I delivered you;
(E)I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I (F)tested you at the waters of [b]Meribah. Selah

“Hear,(G) O My people, and I will admonish you!
O Israel, if you will listen to Me!
There shall be no (H)foreign god among you;
Nor shall you worship any foreign god.
10 (I)I am the Lord your God,
Who brought you out of the land of Egypt;
(J)Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But My people would not heed My voice,
And Israel would have (K)none of Me.
12 (L)So I gave them over to [c]their own stubborn heart,
To walk in their own counsels.

13 “Oh,(M) that My people would listen to Me,
That Israel would walk in My ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies,
And turn My hand against their adversaries.
15 (N)The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him,
But their [d]fate would endure forever.
16 He would (O)have fed them also with [e]the finest of wheat;
And with honey (P)from the rock I would have satisfied you.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 81:1 Heb. Al Gittith
  2. Psalm 81:7 Lit. Strife or Contention
  3. Psalm 81:12 the dictates of their heart
  4. Psalm 81:15 Lit. time
  5. Psalm 81:16 Lit. fat of wheat

Psalm 81[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of Asaph.

Sing for joy to God our strength;
    shout aloud to the God of Jacob!(A)
Begin the music, strike the timbrel,(B)
    play the melodious harp(C) and lyre.(D)

Sound the ram’s horn(E) at the New Moon,(F)
    and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
this is a decree for Israel,
    an ordinance of the God of Jacob.(G)
When God went out against Egypt,(H)
    he established it as a statute for Joseph.

I heard an unknown voice say:(I)

“I removed the burden(J) from their shoulders;(K)
    their hands were set free from the basket.
In your distress you called(L) and I rescued you,
    I answered(M) you out of a thundercloud;
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah.[c](N)
Hear me, my people,(O) and I will warn you—
    if you would only listen to me, Israel!
You shall have no foreign god(P) among you;
    you shall not worship any god other than me.
10 I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of Egypt.(Q)
Open(R) wide your mouth and I will fill(S) it.

11 “But my people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.(T)
12 So I gave them over(U) to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.

13 “If my people would only listen to me,(V)
    if Israel would only follow my ways,
14 how quickly I would subdue(W) their enemies
    and turn my hand against(X) their foes!
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe(Y) before him,
    and their punishment would last forever.
16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;(Z)
    with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 81:1 In Hebrew texts 81:1-16 is numbered 81:2-17.
  2. Psalm 81:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 81:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.