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Psalms Chapter 81 (JPS)

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Psalms 81 – Open Thy Mouth Wide and I Will Fill It
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2 Sing aloud unto G-d our strength; shout unto the G-d of Jacob.

3 Take up the melody, and sound the timbrel, the sweet harp with the psaltery.

4 Blow the horn at the new moon, at the full moon for our feast-day.

5 For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the G-d of Jacob.

6 He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when He went forth against the land of Egypt. The speech of one that I knew not did I hear:

7 'I removed his shoulder from the burden; His hands were freed from the basket.

8 Thou didst call in trouble, and I rescued thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah

9 Hear, O My people, and I will admonish thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto Me!

10 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any foreign god.

11 I am HaShem thy G-d, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt; open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

12 But My people hearkened not to My voice; and Israel would none of Me.

13 So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, that they might walk in their own counsels.

14 Oh that My people would hearken unto Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!

15 I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries.

16 The haters of HaShem should dwindle away before Him; and their punishment should endure for ever.

17 They should also be fed with the fat of wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee.'

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Psalm 81 about?
It opens as a call to sing and blow the trumpet at the feast (vv.1-3), then shifts to God speaking, recalling how he freed Israel from Egypt and tested them at the waters of Meribah (vv.5-7).
What does Psalm 81:10 promise?
"I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it" - God's invitation to Israel to trust him fully.
What happened because Israel would not listen, according to Psalm 81?
Verse 12 says God gave them up to their own hearts' lust, and they walked in their own counsels; the psalm ends imagining how he would have fed them with honey out of the rock had they obeyed (v.16).

Today's Verse

the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.

Revelation 1:20 | ASV

Verse Of The Day

God recalls testing Israel at the waters of Meribah and promises to fill the mouth of anyone who will truly hearken, an offer of abundance similar to John 15:7. The psalm ends with regret that Israel would not listen, and Psalms 82 turns to God's judgment of unjust rulers.