1 For the choir director; on the gittith; by Asaph. Sing joyfully to God, our strength. Shout happily to the God of Jacob. 2 Begin a psalm, and strike a tambourine. Play lyres and harps with their pleasant music. 3 Blow the ram's horn on the day of the new moon, on the day of the full moon, on our festival days. 4 This is a law for Israel, a legal decision from the God of Jacob. 5 These are the instructions God set in place for Joseph when Joseph rose to power over Egypt. I heard a message I did not understand: 6 "I removed the burden from his shoulder. His hands were freed from the basket. 7 When you were in trouble, you called out to me, and I rescued you. I was hidden in thunder, but I answered you. I tested your loyalty at the oasis of Meribah. Selah 8 Listen, my people, and I will warn you. Israel, if you would only listen to me! 9 Never keep any strange god among you. Never worship a foreign god. 10 I am the LORD your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 "But my people did not listen to me. Israel wanted nothing to do with me. 12 So I let them go their own stubborn ways and follow their own advice. 13 If only my people would listen to me! If only Israel would follow me! 14 I would quickly defeat their enemies. I would turn my power against their foes. 15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe in front of him, and their time for punishmentwould last forever. 16 But I would feed Israel with the finest wheat and satisfy them with honey from a rock." GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. | |