81:11 But my people did not obey me; 1
Israel did not submit to me. 2
81:12 I gave them over to their stubborn desires; 3
they did what seemed right to them. 4
81:13 If only my people would obey me! 5
If only Israel would keep my commands! 6
1 tn Heb “did not listen to my voice.”
2 tn The Hebrew expression אָבָה לִי (’avah liy) means “submit to me” (see Deut 13:8).
3 tn Heb “and I sent him away in the stubbornness of their heart.”
4 tn Heb “they walked in their counsel.” The prefixed verbal form is either preterite (“walked”) or a customary imperfect (“were walking”).
5 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).
6 tn Heb “[and if only] Israel would walk in my ways.”