Psalm 81

William Helder, 1972 ©

1. Sing a Psalm of joy,
   Shout with holy fervor.
   All your skills employ;
   With your heart and soul
   Jacob’s God extol.
   He is our Preserver.
   
2. O all Israel,
   Voice your jubilation.
   Let your music swell;
   Harp and timbrel play.
   Show in every way
   Joy and exultation.
   
3. With the trumpet’s tune
   Herald, in due season,
   Feast-days of the moon:
   Let its echo sound.
   To let joy abound
   God gives every reason.
   
4. Keep by God’s command
   Your commemoration:
   When in Egypt’s land
   Captive Israel
   Did in bondage dwell,
   He gave liberation.
   
5. “When you served as slaves
   Of the ruthless Pharaoh,
   I, the God who saves,
   Listened to your plea
   And I set you free
   From distress and sorrow.
   
6. “In the worst of plights
   Comfort I provided.
   On Mount Sinai’s heights
   Did I give My law.
   You at Meribah
   Tested were and guided.
   
7. “Israel, draw nigh.
   O My people, hear Me
   While I testify
   And admonish you.
   O in all you do,
   Would you but revere Me!
   
8. “Never shall you praise
   Gods of heathen nations.
   Never all your days
   To the idols go;
   Them you shall not show
   Any veneration.
   
9. ”Sing to Me your laud.
   Out of Egypt’s power
   I, the LORD your God,
   Rescued Israel;
   So on you as well
   Blessings I will shower.
   
10. “By their willful choice
    They My love rejected;
    They ignored My voice.
    Israel did not
    Heed what they were taught.
    They My law neglected.
    
11. “To their stubborn way
    Them I did surrender.
    Would they but obey
    And return to Me!
    O then I would be
    Israel’s Defender!
    
12. “Then I would in haste
    Israel deliver.
    I would soon lay waste
    The oppressor’s land
    And with mighty hand
    Thwart the foe’s endeavor.
    
13. “As their just reward,
    All the hostile nations
    Who despise the LORD
    Would before His face
    Cringe in their disgrace
    And humiliation.
    
14. “With abundance I
    Israel would nourish.
    You I would supply
    With the finest wheat,
    Honey pure and sweet.
    Israel would flourish!”