Psalms 81:12-13

81:12 I gave them over to their stubborn desires; ¹ 

they did what seemed right to them. ² 

81:13 If only my people would obey me! ³ 

If only Israel would keep my commands! ⁴ 

[81:12]  ¹ tn Heb “and I sent him away in the stubbornness of their heart.”

[81:12]  ² tn Heb “they walked in their counsel.” The prefixed verbal form is either preterite (“walked”) or a customary imperfect (“were walking”).

[81:13]  ³ 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]  ⁴ tn Heb “[and if only] Israel would walk in my ways.”