Micah 6:5

6:5 My people, recall how King Balak of Moab planned to harm you, ¹ 

how Balaam son of Beor responded to him.

Recall how you journeyed from Shittim to Gilgal,

so you might acknowledge that the Lord has treated you fairly.” ² 

Psalms 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!

Psalms 81:8

81:8 I said, ⁵  ‘Listen, my people!

I will warn ⁶  you!

O Israel, if only you would obey me! ⁷ 

Psalms 81:13

81:13 If only my people would obey me! ⁸ 

If only Israel would keep my commands! ⁹ 

¹ tn Heb “remember what Balak…planned.”

² tn Heb “From Shittim to Gilgal, in order to know the just acts of the Lord.” Something appears to be missing at the beginning of the line. The present translation supplies the words, “Recall how you went.” This apparently refers to how Israel crossed the Jordan River (see Josh 3:1; 4:19-24).

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

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).

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.”

⁶ tn Or perhaps “command.”

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.

⁸ 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).

⁹ tn Heb “[and if only] Israel would walk in my ways.”