Oh, That My People Would Listen to Me

To the choirmaster: according to the Gittith.81:0 Probably a musical or liturgical term Of Asaph.

1Sing aloud to God our strength;

shout for joy to the God of Jacob!

2Raise a song; sound the tambourine,

the sweet lyre with the harp.

3Blow the trumpet at the new moon,

at the full moon, on our feast day.

4For it is a statute for Israel,

a rule81:4 Or just decree of the God of Jacob.

5He made it a decree in Joseph

when he went out over81:5 Or against the land of Egypt.

I hear a language I had not known:

6“I relieved your81:6 Hebrew his; also next line shoulder of the burden;

your hands were freed from the basket.

7In distress you called, and I delivered you;

I answered you in the secret place of thunder;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

8Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!

O Israel, if you would but listen to me!

9There shall be no strange god among you;

you shall not bow down to a foreign god.

10I am the LORD your God,

who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11“But my people did not listen to my voice;

Israel would not submit to me.

12So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,

to follow their own counsels.

13Oh, that my people would listen to me,

that Israel would walk in my ways!

14I would soon subdue their enemies

and turn my hand against their foes.

15Those who hate the LORD would cringe towards him,

and their fate would last for ever.

16But he would feed you81:16 That is, Israel; Hebrew him with the finest of the wheat,

and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”