> [[psalm-80|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-82|Next →]] --- # Psalm 81 ## An Admonition to Fidelity 1 For the leader; “upon the *gittith*.” Of Asaph. ^psalm-81-1 ### I 2 Sing joyfully to God our strength; ^psalm-81-2 raise loud shouts to the God of Jacob! 3 Take up a melody, sound the timbrel, ^psalm-81-3 the pleasant lyre with a harp. 4 Blow the shofar at the new moon, ^psalm-81-4 at the full moon, on our solemn feast. 5 For this is a law for Israel, ^psalm-81-5 an edict of the God of Jacob, 6 He made it a decree for Joseph ^psalm-81-6 when he came out of the land of Egypt. ### II 7 I heard a tongue I did not know: ^psalm-81-7 “I removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands moved away from the basket. 8 In distress you called and I rescued you; ^psalm-81-8 I answered you in secret with thunder; At the waters of Meribah I tested you: *Selah* 9 ‘Listen, my people, I will testify against you ^psalm-81-9 If only you will listen to me, Israel! 10 There shall be no foreign god among you; ^psalm-81-10 you shall not bow down to an alien god. 11 ‘I am the LORD your God, ^psalm-81-11 who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open wide your mouth that I may fill it.’ 12 But my people did not listen to my words; ^psalm-81-12 Israel would not submit to me. 13 So I thrust them away to the hardness of their heart; ^psalm-81-13 ‘Let them walk in their own machinations.’ 14 O that my people would listen to me, ^psalm-81-14 that Israel would walk in my ways, 15 In a moment I would humble their foes, ^psalm-81-15 and turn back my hand against their oppressors. 16 Those who hate the LORD will try flattering him, ^psalm-81-16 but their fate is fixed forever. 17 But Israel I will feed with the finest wheat, ^psalm-81-17 I will satisfy them with honey from the rock.” \* (Psalm 81) At a pilgrimage feast, probably harvest in the fall, the people assemble in the Temple in accord with the Sinai ordinances ([Ps 81:2] – [6]). They hear a divine word (mediated by a Temple speaker) telling how God rescued them from slavery in Egypt ([Ps 81:7] – [9]), gave them the fundamental commandment of fidelity ([Ps 81:9] – [11]), which would bring punishment if they refused to obey ([Ps 81:12] – [13]). But if Israel repents, God will be with them once again, bestowing protection and fertility ([Ps 81:14] – [16]). \* (81:1) Upon the gittith: probably the title of the melody to which the Psalm was to be sung or a musical instrument. \* (81:4) New moon... full moon: the pilgrimage feast of harvest began with a great assembly ([Lv 23:24]; [Nm 29:1]), used the new moon as a sign ([Nm 29:6]), and included trumpets ([Lv 23:24]). \* (81:7) I heard a tongue I did not know: a Temple official speaks the word of God ([Ps 81:5b] – [16]), which is authoritative and unlike merely human words (cf. [Nm 24:4], [16]). \* (81:7) I removed his shoulder from the burden: A reference to the liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt. The basket: for carrying clay to make bricks, cf. ([[exodus-01|Ex 1]]:14]. \* (81:8) Meribah: place of rebellion in the wilderness; cf. ([[exodus-17|Ex 17]]:7]; [Nm 20:13]. \* (81:10) There shall be no foreign god among you: as in [Ps 50] and [95], Israel is challenged to obey the first commandment of fidelity to God after the proclamation of the exodus. a. (81:2) [Ps 43:4]; [68:26]; [149:3]; [150:3] – [4]; [[judith-16|Jdt 16]]:1. b. (81:4) [Lv 23:24]; [Nm 29:1]. c. (81:5) ([[exodus-23|Ex 23]]:14ff]. d. (81:7) ([[exodus-01|Ex 1]]:14]; [6:6]. e. (81:8) [Ps 95:8]; ([[exodus-02|Ex 2]]:23ff]; [17:7]; [19:16]; [Nm 20:13]; [27:14]. f. (81:9) ([[exodus-01|Ex 1]]:14]; [6:6]. g. (81:10] – [11) ([[exodus-20|Ex 20]]:2] – [6]; [Dt 5:6] – [10]. h. (81:13) [Jer 3:17]; [7:24]. i. (81:14) [Is 48:18]. j. (81:15) [Lv 26:7] – [8]. k. (81:17) [Ps 147:14]; [Dt 32:13] – [14]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[psalm-80|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-82|Next →]]