Psalms

Psalm 81:11–14

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.

¹³If only My people would listen to Me,

if Israel would follow My ways,

¹⁴how soon I would subdue their enemies

and turn My hand against their foes!

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But My people	עַמִּ֣י	‘am·mî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H5971 people
would not	וְלֹא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
listen to Me	שָׁמַ֣ע	šā·ma‘	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H8085 hear
and Israel	וְ֝יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל	wə·yiś·rā·’êl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
would not	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
obey	אָ֥בָה	’ā·ḇāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H14 be willing, consent
Me	לִֽי׃	lî	Preposition; first person common singular

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So I gave them up	וָֽ֭אֲשַׁלְּחֵהוּ	wā·’ă·šal·lə·ḥê·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person masculine singular	H7971 send
to their stubborn	בִּשְׁרִיר֣וּת	biš·rî·rūṯ	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct	H8307 firmness
hearts	לִבָּ֑ם	lib·bām	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
to follow	יֵ֝לְכ֗וּ	yê·lə·ḵū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
their own devices	בְּֽמוֹעֲצוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃	bə·mō·w·‘ă·ṣō·w·ṯê·hem	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H4156 counsel, plan, principle, device

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If only	ל֗וּ	lū	Preposition	H3863 if
My people	עַ֭מִּי	‘am·mî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H5971 people
would listen	שֹׁמֵ֣עַֽ	šō·mê·a‘	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H8085 hear
to Me	לִ֑י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
if Israel	יִ֝שְׂרָאֵ֗ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
would follow	יְהַלֵּֽכוּ׃	yə·hal·lê·ḵū	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
My ways	בִּדְרָכַ֥י	biḏ·rā·ḵay	Preposition-b; Noun - common plural construct; first person common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
how soon	כִּ֭מְעַט	kim·‘aṭ	Preposition-k; Adjective - masculine singular	H4592 a little, fewness, a few
I would subdue	אַכְנִ֑יעַ	’aḵ·nî·a‘	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular	H3665 be humble
their enemies	אוֹיְבֵיהֶ֣ם	’ō·wy·ḇê·hem	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H341 be hostile to
and turn	אָשִׁ֥יב	’ā·šîḇ	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular	H7725 turn back, return
My hand	יָדִֽי׃	yā·ḏî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H3027 hand
against	וְעַ֥ל	wə·‘al	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H5921 height
their foes	צָ֝רֵיהֶ֗ם	ṣā·rê·hem	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H6862 narrow, tight