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11 But my people did not obey me;[a]
Israel did not submit to me.[b]
12 I gave them over to their stubborn desires;[c]
they did what seemed right to them.[d]
13 If only my people would obey me![e]
If only Israel would keep my commands![f]

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 81:11 tn Heb “did not listen to my voice.”
  2. Psalm 81:11 tn The Hebrew expression אָבָה לִי (ʾavah li) means “submit to me” (see Deut 13:8).
  3. Psalm 81:12 tn Heb “and I sent him away in the stubbornness of their heart.”
  4. Psalm 81:12 tn Heb “they walked in their counsel.” The prefixed verbal form is either preterite (“walked”) or a customary imperfect (“were walking”).
  5. Psalm 81:13 tn Heb “if only my people were listening to me.” The Hebrew particle לוּ (lu, “if not”) introduces a purely hypothetical or contrary to fact condition (see 2 Sam 18:12).
  6. Psalm 81:13 tn Heb “[and if only] Israel would walk in my ways.”

11 “But my people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.(A)
12 So I gave them over(B) to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.

13 “If my people would only listen to me,(C)
    if Israel would only follow my ways,

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