Psalm 81 is the 81st psalm in the biblical Book of Psalms. Its themes relate to celebration and repentance. In the New King James Version its sub-title is "An Appeal for Israel's Repentance".[1] In the slightly different numbering system of the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation, the Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 80.

Psalm 81
"Sing Aloud to God, Our Strength!"
Psalm 81 (Psalm 80 in Vulgate) from Psalter of Eleanor of Aquitaine (ca. 1185) - KB 76 F 13, folium 103v
Other name	Exultate deo adiutori nostro, iubilate deo Jacob
Text	A Psalm of Asaph
Language	Hebrew (original)

Text

Hebrew Bible version

Following is the Hebrew text of Psalm 81:[2]

King James Version

The following is the full English text of the Psalm from the King James Bible.

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.

1. Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2. Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3. Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
4. For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
5. This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.
6. I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
7. Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
8. Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
9. There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
10. I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
13. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
14. I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
15. The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.
16. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

Verse numbering

In the Hebrew Bible, Psalm 81:1 comprises the designation

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph. (KJV)

From then on Psalm 81:1–16 in English versions correspond to verses 2–17 in the Hebrew text.

Commentary

The reference to the new moon and full moon as well as the blowing of the trumpet in verse 3 may reflect the celebration of New Year and Tabernacles.[3] The teaching of verses 9 and 10 is similar to the beginning of the Decalogue, although 'the words for "strange" god and "foreign" god are different from the "other gods" in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, with the verb "brought [you] up" and the order of the phrases reversed.[3]

The beginning of the psalm is like a hymn (verses 1–5b), which is followed by an oracle (verses 5c–16). In particular, verses 6-10 describe 'God's deliverance of his people from Egypt', whereas verses 11-16 recall the past disobedience of the people and promise to give victory over their enemies if they obey God.[3]

Significance

Robert Godfrey, Sinclair Ferguson and some others make this the poetic center of the Psalter being the middle book (book 3 of 5), middle Psalm (8 of 17) and even point to the middle verses of this Psalm (Psalm 81:8,9 with "if only my people would listen").[4]

Uses

Judaism

• The psalm is recited in its entirety in the Shir Shel Yom of Thursday.[5]
• It is recited on Rosh Hashanah in some traditions.[6]
• It is recited on the sixth day of Sukkot in some traditions.[7]
• Verse 2 is part of Mishnah Tamid 7:4.[8]
• Verse 3 is part of the blessings before the Shema on the second day of Rosh Hashanah.[9]
• Verses 4-5 are part of the daytime Kiddush on Rosh Hashanah.[10]
• Verse 5 is found in the Mussaf Amidah on Rosh Hashanah.[11]
• Verse 11 is the seventh verse of Hoshia Et Amecha in Pesukei Dezimra.[12]

Musical Settings

Verses 1-4 were set by Adrian Batten in a sacred anthem entitled "O sing joyfully".[13] Verse 1 was set by Alan Hovhaness for his motet Opus 68 Sing Aloud.[14]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Psalm 81.

• Psalm 81 in Hebrew and English - Mechon-mamre
• Psalm 81 King James Bible - Wikisource