Psalms of David - Modern Translation - Psalm 81

Sing with joy to God, our strength,
shout aloud to the One who saves us!

Raise a song, sound the tambourine,
let the melody of strings ring out.

Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the appointed time of celebration.

For this is a decree of our God,
a song of remembrance through all time.

"I lifted the burden from your shoulders,
I freed your hands from heavy labor.

In your distress, you called upon Me,
and I rescued you.

I answered you in the secret place of thunder,
I tested you in the waters of trial.

Listen, My people, and I will guide you;
if only you would walk in My ways!

Let no false god be among you,
do not bow to what cannot save.

For I am the Lord your God,
the One who brought you into freedom.

Open your heart wide, and I will fill it!

Yet My people turned away from My voice,
they followed paths of their own making.

So I let them walk as they desired,
to see where their own ways would lead.

Oh, if My people would listen to Me,
if they would follow My ways!

I would swiftly lift them up,
I would turn sorrow into joy.

Those who oppose love would fade away,
but My people would feast in abundance.

With finest wheat I would nourish them,
with honey from the rock, I would satisfy their souls."