Sing for Joy to God Our Strength

For the choirmaster. According to Gittith (Gittith).a Of Asaph (gatherer).

1 Sing for joy to God {Elohim} our strength;

make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob (he grasps the heel).

2Lift up a song, strike the tambourine,

play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.

3Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon,

and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.

4For this is a statute for Israel (he wrestles with God),

an ordinance of the God {Elohe} of Jacob (he grasps the heel).

5He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph (in Joseph)b

when he went out over the land of Egypt (land of bondage),

where I heard an unfamiliar language:

6“I relieved his shoulder of the burden;

his hands were freed from the basket.

7You called out in distress, and I rescued you;

I answered you from the cloud of thunder;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah (quarreling).c

Selah

8Hear, O My people, and I will warn you:

O Israel (he wrestles with God), if only you would listen to Me!

9There must be no strange god among you,

nor shall you bow to a foreign god.

10I am the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka},

who brought you up out of Egypt (land of bondage).

Open wide your mouth,

and I will fill it.

11But My people would not listen to Me,

and Israel (he wrestles with God) would not obey Me.

12So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts

to follow their own devices.

13If only My people would listen to Me,

if Israel (he wrestles with God) would follow My ways,

14how soon I would subdue their enemies

and turn My hand against their foes!

15Those who hate the LORD {YHWH} would feign obedience,

and their doom would last forever.

16But I would feed you the finest wheat;

with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”