Psalm 81:11
New International Version
“But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.

New Living Translation
“But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around.

English Standard Version
“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.

Berean Standard Bible
But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

King James Bible
But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

New King James Version
“But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me.

New American Standard Bible
“But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me.

NASB 1995
“But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me.

NASB 1977
“But My people did not listen to My voice; And Israel did not obey Me.

Legacy Standard Bible
“But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel was not willing to obey Me.

Amplified Bible
“But My people would not listen to My voice, And Israel did not [consent to] obey Me.

Christian Standard Bible
“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel did not obey me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But My people did not listen to Me; Israel did not obey Me.

American Standard Version
But my people hearkened not to my voice; And Israel would none of me.

Contemporary English Version
"But, my people, Israel, you refused to listen, and you would have nothing to do with me!

English Revised Version
But my people hearkened not to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"But my people did not listen to me. Israel wanted nothing to do with me.

Good News Translation
"But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not obey me.

International Standard Version
Yet my people didn't obey my voice; Israel didn't submit to me.

Majority Standard Bible
But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

NET Bible
But my people did not obey me; Israel did not submit to me.

New Heart English Bible
But my people did not listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.

Webster's Bible Translation
But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would not obey me.

World English Bible
But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
But My people did not listen to My voice, "" And Israel has not consented to Me.

Young's Literal Translation
But, My people hearkened not to My voice, And Israel hath not consented to Me.

Smith's Literal Translation
And my people heard not to my voice; and Israel was not inclined to me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But my people heard not my voice: and Israel hearkened not to me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But my people did not hear my voice, and Israel was not attentive to me.

New American Bible
But my people did not listen to my words; Israel would not submit to me.

New Revised Standard Version
“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But my people would not listen to my voice; and Israel would have none of me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And my people did not listen to my voice and Israel was not persuaded by me.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But My people hearkened not to My voice; And Israel would none of Me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But my people hearkened not to my voice; and Israel gave no heed to me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sing for Joy to God, Our Strength
10I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it. 11But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me. 12So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.

Jeremiah 7:24
Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

Isaiah 65:2
All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations,

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

2 Kings 17:14
But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.

Nehemiah 9:29
You admonished them to turn back to Your law, but they were arrogant and disobeyed Your commandments. They sinned against Your ordinances, by which a man will live if he practices them. They turned a stubborn shoulder; they stiffened their necks and would not obey.

Ezekiel 20:8
But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.

Proverbs 1:24-25
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand, / because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,

Zechariah 7:11-12
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts.

2 Chronicles 36:16
But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

John 5:40
yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.

Romans 10:21
But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

Acts 7:51
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.

Hebrews 3:7-8
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness,


Treasury of Scripture

But my people would not listen to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

people

Psalm 106:12,13
Then believed they his words; they sang his praise…

Jeremiah 2:11-13
Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit…

Jeremiah 23:24
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

would none

Exodus 32:1
And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Deuteronomy 32:15,18
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation…

Proverbs 1:30
They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

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Consented Desired Ear Hearken Hearkened Israel Obey Submit Voice
Psalm 81
1. An exhortation to a solemn praising of God
4. God challenges that duty by reason of his benefits
8. God, exhorting to obedience, complains of their disobedience, which proves their own hurt.














But My people
The phrase "But My people" indicates a contrast and a sense of possession. In Hebrew, the word for "people" is "עַם" (am), which often refers to a group that is chosen or set apart. Here, God is speaking of the Israelites, His chosen nation, whom He delivered from Egypt and to whom He gave His laws and covenants. This phrase underscores the intimate relationship between God and Israel, highlighting His role as their divine protector and provider. Historically, this relationship is central to the identity of Israel as a nation set apart for God's purposes.

would not listen to Me
The phrase "would not listen to Me" reflects a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where the Israelites often turned away from God's commandments. The Hebrew word for "listen" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just hearing but obeying. This disobedience is not merely a failure to hear but a willful rejection of God's voice and guidance. Throughout their history, the Israelites struggled with idolatry and rebellion, despite the many prophets sent to call them back to faithfulness.

and Israel
"Israel" here is synonymous with God's chosen people, named after Jacob, who was renamed Israel after wrestling with God. This name carries the weight of a covenantal promise, as Israel is the nation through which God intended to reveal Himself to the world. The historical context of Israel is rich with moments of divine intervention, from the Exodus to the establishment of the kingdom under David and Solomon. Each of these moments was an opportunity for Israel to demonstrate faithfulness to God.

would not obey Me
The phrase "would not obey Me" further emphasizes the disobedience of the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "obey" is "אָבָה" (abah), which means to be willing or to consent. This indicates a deliberate choice to reject God's commandments. The historical context of this disobedience is seen throughout the Old Testament, where Israel's failure to obey God often led to consequences such as exile and oppression. This disobedience is a central theme in the prophetic books, where prophets call Israel to repentance and renewal of their covenant with God.

Verse 11. - But my people would not hearken to my voice (comp. Psalm 78:10, 41, 56; 2 Kings 17:14; 2 Chronicles 36:15, 16). And Israel would none of me; literally, would not obey me (see the Prayer book Version).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But My people
עַמִּ֣י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

would not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

listen to Me,
שָׁמַ֣ע (šā·ma‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

and Israel
וְ֝יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (wə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

would not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

obey
אָ֥בָה (’ā·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 14: To breathe after, to be acquiescent

Me.
לִֽי׃ (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Poetry: Psalm 81:11 But my people didn't listen to my (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 81:10
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