‏ Psalms 81:9-14

9There must be ▼
▼tn The imperfect verbal forms in v. 9 have a modal function, expressing what is obligatory.
no other ▼
▼tn Heb “different”; “illicit.”
god among you.
You must not worship a foreign god.
10I am the Lord, your God,
the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.’
11But my people did not obey me; ▼
▼tn Heb “did not listen to my voice.”

Israel did not submit to me. ▼
▼tn The Hebrew expression אָבָה לִי (ʾavah li) means “submit to me” (see Deut 13:8).

12I gave them over to their stubborn desires; ▼
▼tn Heb “and I sent him away in the stubbornness of their heart.”

they did what seemed right to them. ▼
▼tn Heb “they walked in their counsel.” The prefixed verbal form is either preterite (“walked”) or a customary imperfect (“were walking”).

13If only my people would obey me! ▼
▼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).

If only Israel would keep my commands! ▼
▼tn Heb “[and if only] Israel would walk in my ways.”

14Then I would quickly subdue their enemies,
and attack ▼
▼tn Heb “turn my hand against.” The idiom “turn the hand against” has the nuance of “strike with the hand, attack” (see Isa 1:25; Ezek 38:12; Amos 1:8; Zech 13:7).
their adversaries.”
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