\s5
\c 81
\d A psalm written by Asaph for the choir director
\b
\q1
\v 1 Sing songs to praise God, who enables us to be strong when we fight our enemies;
\q1 shout joyfully to God, whom we descendants of Jacob worship!
\q1
\v 2 Start playing the music, and beat the tambourines;
\q2 play nice music on the harps and lyres.
\b
\q1
\v 3 Blow the trumpets during the festival to celebrate each new moon,
\q2 each time the moon is full, and during our other festivals.

\s5
\q1
\v 4 Do that because that is a decree for us Israelite people;
\q2 it is a command that God made for the descendants of Jacob.
\q2
\v 5 He gave it to the Israelite people when he punished the people of Egypt land.
\b
\q1 That was where I heard them speaking in a language that I did not know.

\s5
\q1
\v 6 God says this: "After the rulers of Egypt forced you Israelites to work as slaves,
\q1 I took those heavy burdens off your backs,
\q2 and I enabled you to lay down those heavy baskets of bricks that you were carrying.
\q1
\v 7 When you were greatly distressed, you called out to me, and I rescued you;
\q2 I answered you out of a thundercloud.
\q2 Later I tested whether you would trust me to give you water when you were in the desert at Meribah.


\s5
\q1
\v 8 You who are my people, listen while I warn you!
\q1 I wish that you Israelite people would pay attention to what I say to you!
\q1
\v 9 You must not have any idols of other gods among you;
\q2 you must never bow to worship any of them!
\q1
\v 10 I am Yahweh, your God;
\q2 It was not any of those gods who brought you out of Egypt;
\q1 I am the one who did it!
\q2 So request what you want me to do for you, and I will do it.
\b

\s5
\q1
\v 11 But my people would not listen to me;
\q2 they would not obey me.
\q1
\v 12 So because they were very stubborn,
\q2 I allowed them to do whatever they wanted to do.
\b

\s5
\q1
\v 13 I wish that my people would listen to me,
\q1 that the Israelite people would behave as I want them to do.
\q1
\v 14 If they did that, I would quickly defeat their enemies;
\q2 I would strike dead those who are oppressing them.

\s5
\q1
\v 15 Then all those who hate me would cringe before me,
\q2 and then I would punish them forever.
\q1
\v 16 But I would give you Israelites very good wheat,
\q2 and I would fill your stomachs with wild honey."