81 - Exultate Deo

1  O sing merrily unto God our strength; *
make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2  Take the psalm, bring hither the timbrel, *
the merry harp with the lute.
3  Blow the trumpet at the new moon, *
even in the time appointed, and on our solemn feast day.
4  For this was made a statute for Israel *
and a law of the God of Jacob.
5  This he laid upon Joseph for a testimony, *
when he came out of the land of Egypt.
6  “I eased his shoulder from the burden, *
and his hands were delivered from bearing the load.
7  You called upon me in troubles, and I delivered you, *
and I answered you in the thundercloud and tested you 
at the waters of strife.
8  Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you; *
O Israel, if you will hearken unto me,
9  There shall be no strange god among you, *
neither shall you worship any other god.
10  I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land
  of Egypt; *
open your mouth wide, and I shall fill it.
11  But my people would not hear my voice, *
and Israel would not obey me.
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12  So I gave them up to the stubbornness of their hearts, *
and let them follow their own imaginations.
13  Oh, that my people would have hearkened unto me, *
that Israel had walked in my ways.
14  I would soon have put down their enemies *
and turned my hand against their adversaries.
15  The haters of the Lord would humble themselves
  before him, *
and their time of punishment would endure for ever.
16  But Israel would I feed with the finest wheat-flour, *
and with honey out of the stony rock would I satisfy him.”