Psalm 81:7-9
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
II
7 [a]I heard a tongue I did not know:
“I removed his shoulder from the burden;[b]
his hands moved away from the basket.(A)
8 In distress you called and I rescued you;
I answered you in secret with thunder;
At the waters of Meribah[c] I tested you:(B) 9 ‘Listen, my people, I will testify against you
Selah
If only you will listen to me, Israel!(C)
Footnotes
- 81:7 I heard a tongue I did not know: a Temple official speaks the word of God (Ps 81:5b–16), which is authoritative and unlike merely human words (cf. Nm 24:4, 16).
- 81:7 I removed his shoulder from the burden: A reference to the liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt. The basket: for carrying clay to make bricks, cf. Ex 1:14.
- 81:8 Meribah: place of rebellion in the wilderness; cf. Ex 17:7; Nm 20:13.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.