Study Desk

For the choir director: on the Gittith. Of Asaph.^(a)

Sing for joy to God our strength; shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.^(b)

Lift up a song—play the tambourine, the melodious lyre, and the harp.^(c)

Blow the horn on the day of our feasts^[a][b] during the new moon^(d) and during the full moon.

For this is a statute for Israel, a judgment of the God of Jacob.^(e)

He set it up as an ordinance for Joseph when He went throughout^[c] the land of Egypt.^(f) I heard an unfamiliar language:

"I relieved his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from carrying the basket.^(g)

You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the thundercloud.^(h) I tested you at the waters of Meribah.⁽ⁱ⁾ Selah

Listen, My people, and I will admonish you. Israel, if you would only listen to Me!^(j)

There must not be a strange god among you; you must not bow down to a foreign god.^(k)

I am Yahweh your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.^(l) Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.^(m)

"But My people did not listen to Me; Israel did not obey Me.⁽ⁿ⁾

So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own plans.^(o)

If only My people would listen to Me and Israel would follow My ways,^(p)

I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes."^(q)

Those who hate the Lord would pretend submission to Him;^(r) their doom would last forever.^(s)

But He would feed Israel^[d] with the best wheat. "I would satisfy you with honey from the rock."^(t)