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Sing for joy to God our strength
Shout aloud to the God of Jacob, the Holy fire!
Begin the music, strike the timbrel
Play the melodious harp and lyre

Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon
And when the moon is full, on the day of our festival
This is a decree for Israel
An ordinance of the God of Jacob, the God uncontestable

When God went out against Egypt
He established it as a statute for Joseph
I heard an unknown voice say
Voice so soft and so tough:

“I removed the burden from their shoulders
Their hands were set free from the basket
I answered you out of a thundercloud
In your distress you called and you I rescued

I tested you at the waters of Meribah
Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—
If you would only listen to me, Israel!
You shall have no foreign god among you

You shall not worship any god other than me
I am the Lord your God
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it
I am the one who out of Egypt brought”

But my people would not listen to me
Israel would not submit to me
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
To follow their own devices for them to see

“If my people would only listen to me
If Israel would only follow my ways
How quickly I would subdue their enemies
And turn my hand against their foes to reduce their days!

Those who hate the Lord would cringe before Him
And their punishment would last forever
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat
With honey from the rock I would satisfy you so you to starve never”


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