Mazmur 14:4

14:4 All those who behave wickedly ¹  do not understand – ² 

those who devour my people as if they were eating bread,

and do not call out to the Lord.

Mazmur 50:7

50:7 He says: ³ 

“Listen my people! I am speaking!

Listen Israel! I am accusing you! ⁴ 

I am God, your God!

Mazmur 81:8

81:8 I said, ⁵  ‘Listen, my people!

I will warn ⁶  you!

O Israel, if only you would obey me! ⁷ 

Mazmur 81:11

81:11 But my people did not obey me; ⁸ 

Israel did not submit to me. ⁹ 

Mazmur 81:13

81:13 If only my people would obey me! ¹⁰ 

If only Israel would keep my commands! ¹¹ 

[14:4]  ¹ tn Heb “all the workers of wickedness.” See Pss 5:5; 6:8.

[14:4]  ² tn Heb “Do they not understand?” The rhetorical question (rendered in the translation as a positive affirmation) expresses the psalmist’s amazement at their apparent lack of understanding. This may refer to their lack of moral understanding, but it more likely refers to their failure to anticipate God’s defense of his people (see vv. 5-7).

[50:7]  ³ tn The words “he says” are supplied in the translation for clarification. God’s charges against his people follow.

[50:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “Israel, and I will testify against you.” The imperative “listen” is understood in the second line by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[81:8]  ⁵ tn The words “I said” are supplied in the translation for clarification. Verses 8-10 appear to recall what the Lord commanded the generation of Israelites that experienced the events described in v. 7. Note the statement in v. 11, “my people did not listen to me.”

[81:8]  ⁶ tn Or perhaps “command.”

[81:8]  ⁷ tn The Hebrew particle אִם (“if”) and following prefixed verbal form here express a wish (GKC 321 §109.b). Note that the apodosis (the “then” clause of the conditional sentence) is suppressed.

[81:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “did not listen to my voice.”

[81:11]  ⁹ tn The Hebrew expression אָבָה לִי (’avah liy) means “submit to me” (see Deut 13:8).

[81:13]  ¹⁰ 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).

[81:13]  ¹¹ tn Heb “[and if only] Israel would walk in my ways.”