Psalm 81 NIV NLT Parallel

◄ Psalm 81 ►

New International Version

New Living Translation

1For the director of music. According to gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

1Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Jacob.

2Begin the music, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre.

2Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp.

3Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;

3Blow the ram’s horn at new moon, and again at full moon to call a festival!

4this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

4For this is required by the decrees of Israel; it is a regulation of the God of Jacob.

5When God went out against Egypt, he established it as a statute for Joseph. I heard an unknown voice say:

5He made it a law for Israel when he attacked Egypt to set us free. I heard an unknown voice say,

6"I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket.

6“Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.

7In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

7You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered out of the thundercloud and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah. Interlude

8Hear me, my people, and I will warn you-- if you would only listen to me, Israel!

8“Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me!

9You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not worship any god other than me.

9You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god.

10I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

10For it was I, the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.

11"But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.

11“But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around.

12So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

12So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas.

13"If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways,

13Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!

14how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!

14How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes!

15Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.

15Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him; they would be doomed forever.

16But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

16But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”