Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Psalms » Chapter 81 » Verse 5-8

Psalms 81:5-8 King James Version (KJV)

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;


Psalms 81:5-8 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

5 This he ordained H7760 in Joseph H3084 for a testimony, H5715 when he went out H3318 through the land H776 of Egypt: H4714 where I heard H8085 a language H8193 that I understood H3045 not.

6 I removed H5493 his shoulder H7926 from the burden: H5447 his hands H3709 were delivered H5674 from the pots. H1731

7 Thou calledst H7121 in trouble, H6869 and I delivered H2502 thee; I answered H6030 thee in the secret place H5643 of thunder: H7482 I proved H974 thee at the waters H4325 of Meribah. H4809 Selah. H5542

8 Hear, H8085 O my people, H5971 and I will testify H5749 unto thee: O Israel, H3478 if thou wilt hearken H8085 unto me;


Psalms 81:5-8 American Standard (ASV)

5 He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Egypt, `Where' I heard a language that I knew not.

6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: His hands were freed from the basket.

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 wouldest hearken unto me!


Psalms 81:5-8 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

5 A testimony on Joseph He hath placed it, In his going forth over the land of Egypt. A lip, I have not known -- I hear.

6 From the burden his shoulder I turned aside, His hands from the basket pass over.

7 In distress thou hast called and I deliver thee, I answer thee in the secret place of thunder, I try thee by the waters of Meribah. Selah.

8 Hear, O My people, and I testify to thee, O Israel, if thou dost hearken to me:


Psalms 81:5-8 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

5 He ordained it in Joseph [for] a testimony, when he went forth over the land of Egypt, [where] I heard a language that I knew not.

6 I removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.

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, my people, and I will testify unto thee; O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto me!


Psalms 81:5-8 World English Bible (WEB)

5 He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn't know.

6 "I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket.

7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at the waters of Meribah." Selah.

8 "Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me!


Psalms 81:5-8 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

5 He gave it to Joseph as a witness, when he went out over the land of Egypt; then the words of a strange tongue were sounding in my ears.

6 I took the weight from his back; his hands were made free from the baskets.

7 You gave a cry in your trouble, and I made you free; I gave you an answer in the secret place of the thunder; I put you to the test at the waters of Meribah. (Selah.)

8 Give ear, O my people, and I will give you my word, O Israel, if you will only do as I say!

Commentary on Psalms 81 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


PSALM 81

Ps 81:1-16. Gittith—(See on Ps 8:1, title). A festal Psalm, probably for the passover (compare Mt 26:30), in which, after an exhortation to praise God, He is introduced, reminding Israel of their obligations, chiding their neglect, and depicting the happy results of obedience.

1. our strength—(Ps 38:7).

2. unites the most joyful kinds of music, vocal and instrumental.

3. the new moon—or the month.

the time appointed—(Compare Pr 7:20).

5. a testimony—The feasts, especially the passover, attested God's relation to His people.

Joseph—for Israel (Ps 80:1).

went out through—or, "over," that is, Israel in the exodus.

I heard—change of person. The writer speaks for the nation.

language—literally, "lip" (Ps 14:1). An aggravation or element of their distress that their oppressors were foreigners (De 28:49).

6. God's language alludes to the burdensome slavery of the Israelites.

7. secret place—the cloud from which He troubled the Egyptians (Ex 14:24).

proved thee—(Ps 7:10; 17:3)—tested their faith by the miracle.

8. (Compare Ps 50:7). The reproof follows to Ps 81:12.

if thou wilt hearken—He then propounds the terms of His covenant: they should worship Him alone, who (Ps 81:10) had delivered them, and would still confer all needed blessings.

11, 12. They failed, and He gave them up to their own desires and hardness of heart (De 29:18; Pr 1:30; Ro 11:25).

13-16. Obedience would have secured all promised blessings and the subjection of foes. In this passage, "should have," "would have," &c., are better, "should" and "would" expressing God's intention at the time, that is, when they left Egypt.