Psalms Chapter 81
Psalm 81 (80)

pen your mouth and I shall fill it. “If my people would listen to me, I would subdue their enemies.” We lack dynamism to evangelize and change the world: this is because we still have idols even in our apostolate planning.

2 Sing joyfully to God, our strength;
acclaim aloud the God of Jacob.

3 Start the music, strike the timbrel,
play melodies on the harp and lyre.

4 Sound the trumpet at the new moon,
on our feastday when the moon is full.

5 This is a decree for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob,

6 a statute he wrote for Joseph
when he went out of Egypt.
They heard a voice they did not know:
“Open wide your mouth and I will fill it,

7 I relieved your shoulder from burden;
I freed your hands.

8 You called in distress, and I saved you;
unseen, I answered you in thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

9 Hear, my people, as I admonish you.
If only you would listen, O Israel!

10 There shall be no strange god among you,
you shall not worship any alien god,

11 for I the Lord am your God,
who led you forth from the land of Egypt.

12 But my people did not listen;
Israel did not obey.

13 So I gave them over to their stubbornness
and they followed their own counsels.

14 If only my people would listen,
if only Israel would walk in my ways,

15 I would quickly subdue their adversaries
and turn my hand against their enemies.

16 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
and their panic would last forever.

17 I would feed you with the finest wheat
and satisfy you with honey from the rock.”